Accra coastline beach club demolitions and compensation push

National Security supervised a series of dawn operations along the Accra coastline to demolish several beach clubs and structures, including La Pleasure Beach Resort, Polo Beach Club, and Vienna City Club. Business owners and vendors reported significant distress, stating the clearances occurred without prior notice and threatened livelihoods that have existed for generations. Musician D-Black described the demolitions as “unfortunate.”

Following the operations, which reportedly followed a request from the Labadi Beach Hotel to remove encroachments, a committee is being established to determine whether compensation for affected individuals and businesses will be financial or involve relocation. This committee includes representatives from the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, traditional authorities, and local Members of Parliament. Naa Odoley Sowah, the local MP and Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, stated that data has been collected on displaced persons to assess their circumstances.

The Ghana Tourism Federation (GHATOF) has since demanded compensation for 85 destroyed businesses, noting that the demolitions put approximately 4,000 jobs at risk, particularly for women in food vending and crafts. GHATOF President Seth Ocran argued that many affected businesses had operated for decades and paid state taxes and levies. The federation is seeking accountability from the institutions that issued the original operating permits and is advocating for displaced traders to have the “first right of refusal” if the beachfront is redeveloped.

Management of La Pleasure Beach expects to reopen the facility within three weeks once debris is cleared, though they have advised vendors against erecting permanent structures once operations resume.