Ga-Dangme Council Rips Into La Beach Demolition

Demands Urgent Restoration Of Traders’ Livelihoods

By Gifty Boateng

The GaDangme Council has come out swinging against National Security operatives over the demolition of business structures near La Beach Hotel, demanding that government move swiftly to restore the livelihoods of hundreds of traders left stranded by the bulldozers.

The demolition, which razed makeshift businesses operated by traders, food vendors and other small entrepreneurs, has sparked widespread anxiety in the coastal community over how the affected families will survive.

In a hard-hitting statement issued Monday, October 19 and signed by its President, Ayikoi Otoo, the Council said it viewed the exercise with “grave concern,” noting that it had destroyed businesses and disrupted the livelihoods of hundreds who depend on trading at the beach to feed their families.

The Council insisted the structures, located within the La Beach enclave, were put up by La subjects with the blessing of the La Traditional authorities and had served as sources of livelihood for generations.

It expressed strong displeasure at the demolition, arguing that actions leading to the sudden destruction of people’s means of earning a living should not be undertaken without adequate consultation, reasonable notice and appropriate arrangements to address the plight of those affected.

According to the Council, the demolished structures represent more than physical buildings they embody years of investment, business activity and essential sources of income for traders and their dependents.

It warned that the exercise could deepen economic hardship among affected families and undermine the welfare of community members who rely on the businesses for their daily survival.

While acknowledging government’s responsibility to maintain public order, enforce the law and ensure proper management of beaches and other public facilities, the Council stressed that such responsibilities must be exercised with respect for the dignity, property interests and livelihoods of citizens.

It maintained that regulation of activities at the beach must be conducted fairly and transparently, with due consideration for the circumstances of the affected traders.

The Council therefore called on government and relevant state authorities to urgently engage the La Traditional authorities and representatives of the affected traders to find an amicable and equitable resolution to the matter.

It outlined four key measures it wants government to consider to ease the hardship caused by the demolition.

First, it called for the immediate facilitation of the return of affected La subjects to their trading activities at Labadi Pleasure Beach, subject to a lawful arrangement agreed upon with the competent authorities.

Second, it urged government, National Security, relevant public institutions, La Traditional authorities and affected traders to commence urgent consultations to address outstanding concerns and resolve the dispute.

Third, the Council called for a sustainable arrangement that would allow the affected traders to resume their businesses without unnecessary disruption while complying with applicable planning, environmental and public-safety requirements.

It also demanded fair consideration of the losses suffered by the traders, including appropriate remedial measures to address the economic impact of the demolition.

The GaDangme Council urged government to ensure that the pursuit of development, public order and law enforcement does not come at the expense of the economic well-being of ordinary citizens.

It emphasised that the affected traders are members of the La community whose livelihoods have been seriously disrupted and who deserve to be heard, treated fairly and given a reasonable opportunity to rebuild their businesses.

The Council consequently appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and the appropriate state authorities to intervene urgently to resolve the matter and facilitate the return of the affected traders to their economic activities.

It further called for a humane and lasting solution to the concerns surrounding Labadi Pleasure Beach, arguing that dialogue and cooperation would provide a better path towards resolving the situation than measures that leave local traders without their sources of income.

The Council reaffirmed its solidarity with the affected La subjects and its commitment to protecting the legitimate interests of GaDangme communities.

It maintained that a fair resolution would require constructive engagement among government, traditional authorities and affected traders to balance enforcement of the law with protection of livelihoods and community welfare.

Meanwhile, the Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Kwasi Afreh-Biney, has defended the demolition exercise, assuring that plans are underway to redevelop the area before the Christmas festivities.

Afreh-Biney explained that the exercise forms part of a broader redevelopment plan aimed at giving the area a facelift while creating opportunities for affected workers and business operators.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Newsfile programme, the Director-General said a committee had been established to oversee aspects of the redevelopment, including measures to mitigate the impact of the demolition on those whose livelihoods have been affected.

He stressed that the authorities were considering ways to accommodate displaced workers and entrepreneurs in the new development.

“For the employees, we start with the two hotels. Now, as they develop some of the new blueprints that are coming up, once we have the data, it is important for us to absorb these people to mitigate the impact,” he said.

He explained that the redevelopment would also create employment opportunities through new projects being planned as part of a broader strategy to position Accra as a major business and innovation hub in West Africa.

Afreh-Biney disclosed that SSNIT would soon announce plans for a new centre to be located at the La Trade Fair Site, adding that the initiative could provide further employment opportunities for some of the affected workers.

According to him, once the necessary data on displaced workers are compiled, efforts would be made to identify those who could be absorbed into the new projects.

Beyond formal employment, the SSNIT boss said the redevelopment plan would also make provision for traders and small-scale entrepreneurs, including kelewele sellers, food vendors and those dealing in local artefacts.

He noted that the design process was being undertaken in collaboration with traditional and local authorities to ensure that the needs of affected businesses were considered.

“As we are redesigning how we believe, working together with the traditional authorities and the local authorities, how can we provide for the kelewele seller who was there, for the young seller who was there?” he asked.

Afreh-Biney added that the proposed development would feature spaces for an African market, Ghanaian food vendors and traders dealing in artefacts.

He explained that, rather than focusing solely on financial compensation, the intention was to ensure that affected entrepreneurs received fair opportunities to secure spaces within the new development.

The Director-General further disclosed that the immediate priority was to clear the demolition debris, restore the entrance and exit points, and provide public washrooms at strategic locations.

He said the initial phase was expected to be completed in time for Christmas, when the area traditionally attracts large numbers of visitors and offers business opportunities to traders.

“Once we start clearing the debris, once the debris are cleared, immediately the first point is to do the entrance and then provide washrooms at vantage points,” he stated.

He added that the authorities were working within a tight timeline to ensure the entrance, exit and sanitation facilities were ready before the festive season, allowing people to return to the area and earn a living.

Asked whether the demolition could expose SSNIT or government to a possible judgment debt, Afreh-Biney declined to comment in detail, saying the matter was best addressed by legal practitioners.

“Those are conversations I’ll prefer lawyers to touch,” he said.

The planned redevelopment is expected to transform the La beachfront area, although questions remain about how displaced traders and other affected businesses will be accommodated and how their livelihoods will be protected during the transition.