Politics

Committee to Set Compensation for La Pleasure Beach Demolition

By Today News Hours Editorial Desk

A committee will be formed early next week to decide on compensation for people whose businesses and property were affected by the recent demolition of the La Pleasure Beach. The committee will include representatives from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA), traditional authorities, beach management and the Member of Parliament for the area, Naa Odoley Sowah, who is also Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs. Mrs. Sowah disclosed the plan when she appeared before the Committee on Local Government and Decentralisation in Parliament yesterday. She said data had already been collected on displaced persons and their circumstances would be assessed to determine the form of compensation. She did not specify the nature or amount of compensation, stating that “the matter will be discussed by the committee before a decision will be reached.” She added, “We have their data and the committee is going to look at what we are going to give to them as compensation. So those affected will be compensated, and the decision for the type of compensation has not been finalised, but as the MP, I am following up deeply on that to ensure that everybody gets what they are supposed to get.”

The MP led officials from LaDMA to appear before the committee to answer questions about the demolition of beach facilities and related flood‑mitigation exercises in parts of the Greater Accra Region. The Deputy Minister said the committee would also consider the needs of people who might have to be relocated and those who might require financial compensation. She explained that the La Pleasure Beach exercise was separate from the demolition of La Boma, which would be dealt with under a different arrangement. “La Boma Beach demolition is a different issue, but subsequently La Boma concerns will come up,” she said.

Chief Executive of LaDMA, Alfredos Nii Anyetei, told the committee that the La Boma demolition was undertaken as part of measures to address flooding and restore an ecological site. He said the assembly was not consulted but was shown the locations where the exercise would take place. He also said he was not aware that the MP had been specifically informed before the exercise.

Committee Chairperson Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr said LaDMA has the mandate and technical personnel to monitor development and protect watercourses within their areas. She urged assemblies to strengthen enforcement mechanisms to prevent people from refilling areas that had been dredged or cleared to improve drainage. She said that while government agencies could intervene in emergency situations, assemblies should take responsibility for developments within their jurisdictions. She added that the MP and the assembly must ensure that the concerns of affected persons were properly addressed and that they would follow up on the outcome of the committee’s work.

Last Friday, National Security demolished structures within the La Pleasure Beach and an adjoining leisure spot, the Polo Beach Club, at the request of SSNIT. The exercise destroyed the security post, tollbooth and administration block of the resort, as well as the Vienna City club within the pleasure beach. The beach resort lies between the La Beach Hotel and the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, both owned by SSNIT. The Polo Beach Club, located east of the five‑star Labadi Beach Hotel and bordering the Kpeshie Lagoon estuary to its west, was also brought down. SSNIT said it sought urgent intervention from the National Security Council Secretariat to address unlawful occupation, encroachment and unauthorised activities on the beachfront adjoining and directly in front of the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. It stated that the two hotel properties are part of SSNIT’s investment portfolio and constitute significant national hospitality and tourism assets. SSNIT said it has a fiduciary responsibility to safeguard these investments, preserve their value and ensure they continue to generate sustainable returns for contributors and pensioners under the Basic National Social Security Scheme. It warned that continued encroachment posed risks to the safety and security of hotel guests, employees, service providers and visitors, and increased exposure to fire, sanitation, environmental and public health hazards. The statement added that the beaches will be cleaned and restored to a safe and desirable state and will remain open to the public.