Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has clarified that Friday’s demolition of structures at the Labadi Beach area was not connected to the government’s post-flood mitigation exercise, saying the operation was supervised by National Security following a request from the Labadi Beach Hotel.
In a Facebook post, Mr Dogbe said the exercise should not be confused with the government’s flood mitigation programme. “Let’s not get it twisted. Friday’s action along a section of the beachfront was not a Flood Mitigation Action by the government task force,” he wrote.
He explained that the Labadi Beach Hotel, which he said owns the beachfront, asked National Security to intervene after management raised concerns that activities of establishments operating along the beachfront were affecting the hotel’s safety, tranquillity, reputation and overall visitor experience.
“These are structures, some permanently built (Polo Beach Club and others) on the beach in front of the hotel, and which, according to the business, are adversely affecting the safety, tranquillity and reputation of the Hotel, diminishing the visitor experience and undermining the orderly management of one of Ghana’s most important tourism destinations,” Mr Dogbe said.
He added that the hotel would be in a better position to provide further details on why it requested the reclamation of the beachfront.
Early-Morning Operation
The demolition began in the early hours of Friday, with personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces’ 48 Engineer Regiment, supported by the Ghana Police Service, deployed to the site. Reports from the ground said security personnel arrived at about 4:00 a.m. and instructed residents, workers and businesses in the area to vacate.
Several structures were completely demolished, while others were partially pulled down. Workers and residents were seen trying to salvage belongings from the rubble, with some visibly distressed. One worker told JoyNews that although occupants had received a verbal notice about two weeks earlier, they did not expect the demolition to proceed so quickly, noting that it began roughly 15 minutes after they were told to leave.
The operation specifically targeted the Polo Beach Club and other permanent structures situated on the beach directly in front of the Labadi Beach Hotel.
Not Part of Flood Task Force Work
Mr Dogbe drew a clear distinction between the Labadi Beach operation and the work of the government’s flood mitigation task force at other locations. He said the flood mitigation team was working at the Kpeshie Lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa and behind Mayfair Estates.
“The action has nothing to do with the work of the Taskforce along the Kpeshie lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa, behind Mayfair Estates, etc., that are efforts towards supporting the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to mitigate any future floods,” he said.
The government’s post-flood mitigation campaign in the Greater Accra Region has moved into a stronger enforcement phase, with the task force shifting from dredging and clearing waterways to demolishing unauthorised structures obstructing natural water retention areas. The task force, led on site by the 48 Engineer Regiment, has conducted operations at Laboma, Tesa Dam, the Legon Boundary Road watercourse and the Lafa Water Retention Basin at Mallam.
Sanitation and Security Concerns
Beyond the demolition, Mr Dogbe raised broader concerns about the condition of the beachfront, citing drone footage and other videos from the area. “We must all be concerned about the serious sanitation issues that these unauthorised and unregulated commercial operations cause, in addition to the security risks,” he said.
He also questioned whether the Labadi Beach Hotel was justified in seeking to reclaim the space. “Is the Labadi Beach Hotel not right in reclaiming its beach front? I am not talking about the La Pleasure Beach, please,” he added.
MP Confronts Military Personnel
The exercise was not without incident. Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, confronted military personnel involved in the operation, saying she had not been informed about it. According to her, she had engaged the relevant authorities and had been assured that the structures would not be demolished.
Ms Sowah also questioned the manner in which the exercise was conducted, alleging that some military personnel were firing shots and wielding guns while directing people at the site to leave. “What is it, do you want to kill us? What has La done?” she asked during the confrontation. She said she expected the authorities to explain why the demolition was carried out despite the assurances she had received.
Ownership Dispute in Background
The demolition follows weeks of controversy over ownership and control of the beachfront. Management of La Pleasure Beach had previously resisted a directive to vacate the premises, arguing that an ownership dispute involving the beachfront was before the courts. Management maintained that the matter should be resolved through the judicial process before any demolition took place.
The dispute involves claims concerning the beachfront and the Labadi Beach Hotel. The resort management disputed claims that the land belonged to the government and said the ownership question remained subject to legal proceedings. The resort has also insisted that the land is owned by the Ga traditional authorities.
Spartan-Ives Limited, operators of the Polo Beach Club, filed a lawsuit against the Labadi Beach Hotel and two others on September 16, 2026. The club accused Richard Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Council Secretariat, of using his government position to further what it describes as an unlawful campaign to demolish its premises.
According to the lawsuit, Spartan-Ives Limited secured a 20-year lease of the disputed beachfront land from the La Stool in June 2022 at a total cost of GH¢1.5 million, with the consent of the La Pleasure Beach Management Committee. In 2023, valuation firm UT Properties Limited assessed the Polo Beach Club building at a market value of GH¢41.3 million, a figure the club contends is now considerably higher following extensive improvements to the property.
The club argues that neither the government nor the National Security apparatus sanctioned any demolition effort, and that Mr Jakpa is “on a frolic of his own” in pursuing one.
By Friday afternoon, security personnel had restricted access to sections where structures had already been cleared. The development has intensified the debate over the ownership, use and redevelopment of parts of Accra’s beachfront, while affected businesses and workers face the immediate consequences of the clearance exercise.
