Deputy Chief of Staff (Operations) at the Presidency, Stan Dogbe, has disclosed that National Security supervised Friday’s demolition of structures along a section of Accra’s beachfront at the request of Labadi Beach Hotel.
In a social media post on Friday, October 2, Mr Dogbe clarified that the operation was not conducted by the government’s flood mitigation task force, distinguishing it from ongoing interventions at several flood-prone locations across the country.
“To understand Friday’s action, it was carried out under the supervision of the National Security at the request of the Labadi Beach Hotel,” he stated.
He said the exercise targeted structures, some of them permanently built, including the Polo Beach Club, located on the beachfront in front of the hotel.
According to Mr Dogbe, the hotel maintained that the structures were adversely affecting its safety, tranquillity and reputation, diminishing visitors’ experience and undermining the orderly management of the tourism destination.
The clarification separates the operation from the government task force’s flood mitigation activities at the Kpeshie Lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa and behind Mayfair Estates.
Mr Dogbe said those interventions were intended to support the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources in mitigating future floods.
He also raised concerns about sanitation and security risks associated with unauthorised and unregulated commercial operations 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 added.
His statement comes amid public attention surrounding demolition exercises along Accra’s coastline. However, it did not specify the legal authority under which National Security supervised the operation, whether affected businesses had received prior notice or what arrangements had been made for the displaced operators.
Mr Dogbe said the hotel would be better placed to explain the reasons for seeking to reclaim its beachfront, while asking whether it was justified in doing so.
He also emphasised that his comments concerned the area in front of Labadi Beach Hotel and not the separate demolition at La Pleasure Beach.
