Military Demolition at La Pleasure Beach Sparks MP Clash
MP Rita Naa Odoley Sowah confronts soldiers tearing down structures at La Pleasure Beach amid ownership dispute.
A joint team of military engineers and police arrived at La Pleasure Beach before dawn on Friday, October 2, 2026, to begin tearing down buildings that house dozens of traders and small businesses. The operation was led by soldiers from the 48 Engineer Regiment, acting with the backing of the Ghana Police Service.
Witnesses said the troops moved in at around 4 a.m., ordering everyone on site to leave immediately. Within hours, several huts and stalls were brought down completely, while others were partially dismantled. Some of the people watching the demolition were seen pulling personal items from the wreckage, visibly upset over the loss of their livelihoods.
The Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, arrived at the scene shortly after the exercise started. She questioned why the demolition was proceeding when she had been told by government officials that the area would be left untouched. "I had spoken with the relevant authorities and they assured me that Labadi Beach would not be touched," she said, adding that she was surprised to find the military already at work.
The MP demanded to know what justification the security forces had for targeting the La community, asking "What has La done?" She also raised concerns about the conduct of some soldiers, claiming they fired shots and pointed guns at civilians during the raid.
The demolition is part of a broader effort by the 48 Engineer Regiment to clear structures that authorities say block waterways and contribute to flooding in the La‑Laboma coastal zone. Earlier in September, the same unit had removed buildings at Laboma Beach as part of a post‑flood mitigation project.
The current operation at La Pleasure Beach has sparked a separate dispute over land ownership. The MP says she was informed that the land belongs to the Labadi Beach Hotel, but the hotel’s managing director told her he was unaware of any demolition plans, while a board chairman claimed the exercise had been authorized because of the hotel’s claim to the property.
Legal observers have warned that the ownership issue should be settled in court before any further demolitions take place. As the exercise continues, traders and residents are being forced to clear their belongings, and the MP has vowed to keep pressing the authorities for answers and for a halt to the demolition until the matter is resolved.
