Greater Accra residents protest government demolitions

Demolition exercises in the Greater Accra region have sparked significant protests and political criticism. Residents and business owners in areas including Madina, Nima, La Pleasure Beach, and Laboma Beach Resort have seen homes and commercial structures destroyed as part of government efforts to restore the Kpeshie Lagoon and mitigate flooding.

Critics, including New Patriotic Party (NPP) regional chairman Dr. Bernard Okoe Boye, have accused the government of failing to engage affected communities or traditional authorities before undertaking the demolitions. He argued that the lack of consultation and the use of soldiers to intimidate residents contradict promises of job creation made during the 2024 elections.

The Coalition of La Associations (COLA) has demanded compensation for those affected, noting that approximately 85 businesses at La Pleasure Beach alone have been impacted, putting roughly 4,000 jobs at risk. Demonstrators have utilized traditional rituals, such as pouring libation, to call for intervention amidst the disruption of local livelihoods.