La Pleasure Beach demolition: Government plans compensation committee

The government plans to establish a committee to determine compensation for people affected by the La Pleasure Beach demolition in Accra, MP Rita Naa Odoley Sowah has told a parliamentary committee.

Ms Sowah, who represents La Dadekotopon and is Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, said details of all affected people had been compiled. However, the form of compensation had not been finalised.

Her announcement follows the demolition of structures along the La Beach area, including La Pleasure Beach and the Polo Beach Club near the Labadi Beach Hotel. Vendors and businesses operating in the area were directed to vacate the premises.

Appearing before Parliament’s Local Government and Rural Development Committee, Ms Sowah said the proposed compensation committee was expected to be constituted by early the following week.

“We’ve gotten their data, and the committee that is going to meet, we are going to look at what we’re going to give to them as compensation,” she said.

“So, they’ll be compensated, and the decision on the type of compensation hasn’t come out, or we haven’t finalised that.”

The announcement is a commitment to determine compensation packages. It does not establish how much affected people will receive or when compensation will be provided.

Ms Sowah said she was following up on the matter as the constituency’s MP to ensure that affected people received what they were entitled to.

“By early next week, the committee will be composed, and we’ll start meetings, and we’ll update the committee on whatever we come up with,” she told the parliamentary committee.

Military personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces’ 48 Engineer Regiment, supported by the Ghana Police Service, supervised the demolition operation.

The exercise has drawn concern from the National Democratic Congress in the La Dadekotopon Constituency, which said it was surprised by the demolition.

According to the constituency party, preliminary consultations had indicated that the area was not included in any demolition planned by the Labadi Beach Hotel. That is the party’s account of those consultations.

For affected vendors and businesses, the next stage will be the constitution of the compensation committee and its assessment of what support should be provided.

Ms Sowah said the parliamentary committee would be updated on the outcome of those discussions.