Military personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, supported by the Ghana Police Service, have begun demolishing structures at La Pleasure Beach in Accra.
The operation follows similar demolitions at Laboma Beach in September, carried out under a government‑directed post‑flood mitigation demolition operation.
Authorities said the structures and beach resorts were obstructing the natural flow of the Kpeshie Lagoon into the sea.
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Eyewitnesses reported that the military arrived at La Pleasure Beach around 4 a.m., ordering workers and operators to evacuate before the exercise began.
Large sections of the area were torn down, prompting emotional confrontations from residents and, notably, La- Dadekotopon MP Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, who challenged the legitimacy of the demolition.
The minister said she had earlier been assured by authorities that La Pleasure Beach would be exempt from the operation.
“I went to the authorities, and they assured me that Labadi Beach would not be demolished,” she stated.
She expressed shock at finding the military proceeding without her knowledge and the military’s alleged exertion of brutality against residents.
“What has La done? Do you want to kill us? What has La done?” she asked.
She later said she was informed the demolition was justified on the grounds that the land belonged to Labadi Beach Hotel.
Rita Naa Odoley Sowah disputed this explanation, noting that she had contacted hotel officials, while managers of La Pleasure Beach insisted they had no prior knowledge of the exercise.
The 48 Engineer Regiment stated that its operations are aimed at removing structures identified as blocking waterways and worsening flooding. Demolitions have so far extended to structures at Polo Beach Club as well.
Even so, the La Pleasure Beach demolition exercise has triggered a separate dispute, particularly over land ownership and the status of ongoing court proceedings.
Recent reports have raised concerns that the courts should resolve the ownership issue before any further demolition takes place.