Benjamin Pinewood
Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe, has clarified that the demolition of structures along the La Beach area in Accra was not part of the government’s flood mitigation exercise.
The clarification follows the demolition of the La Pleasure Beach and Polo Beach Club near the Labadi Beach Hotel as part of an operation to clear structures along the beachfront.
Military personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, supported by the Ghana Police Service, supervised the exercise and directed vendors and businesses operating in the area to vacate the premises.
In a Facebook post on Friday, October 2, Mr Dogbe said the operation was separate from the work of the government’s flood mitigation task force.
“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 said.
He explained that the demolition was unrelated to ongoing flood mitigation works at the Kpeshie Lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa and behind Mayfair Estates.
According to Mr Dogbe, the operation was carried out under the supervision of National Security at the request of the Labadi Beach Hotel.
He said the hotel had raised concerns about structures, including the Polo Beach Club, which he noted were permanently built on the beachfront.
“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,” he stated.
Mr Dogbe added that the hotel would provide further details on its reasons for seeking to reclaim the beachfront.
He also expressed concern about sanitation and security challenges associated with unauthorised and unregulated commercial activities along the beach.
“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.
Mr Dogbe further disclosed that he had reviewed drone footage and videos of the area before questioning whether the Labadi Beach Hotel was justified in seeking to reclaim its beachfront.
“Is the Labadi Beach Hotel not right in reclaiming its beachfront (I am not talking about the La Pleasure Beach, please),” he added.
Source: Omanghana.com
