The La Community has vowed to use every legal means available to stop any attempt to redevelop La Pleasure Beach Resort without its consent.
The community insists that the land belongs to the people of La and that no development should take place without their involvement.
The decision follows the demolition of structures along the La Beach area in Accra, including La Pleasure Beach and the Polo Beach Club, located near the Labadi Beach Hotel.
Military personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, together with officers from the Ghana Police Service, supervised the demolition exercise. Vendors and businesses operating in the area were also directed to leave the premises.
Lawyer for the La Community, Nsiah Akuetteh, said the community had already started legal proceedings over what he described as an unlawful takeover of their land.
Speaking at a press conference, Mr Akuetteh accused the resort’s management of carrying out the demolition without first consulting the community.
He warned that any investor who attempts to develop the land without addressing the community’s concerns could also face legal action.
“It will not happen. We will stop it. The land does not belong to them. We will go to court. We have already started the process because it is pure trespass,” he said.
Mr Akuetteh stressed that the resort’s management could not use its money or security personnel to take control of land it did not own.
He explained that anyone planning to develop the area must first meet with the community, present their plans and reach an agreement with the landowners.
He made it clear that the community was not against development. However, he insisted that any plans for the area must respect the community’s land ownership claims and consider the livelihoods of people whose businesses were reportedly affected by the demolition.
“If there is going to be any development there, you cannot say you are going to develop your neighbour’s property. The wise thing to do is to engage them, present proposals and discuss the way forward,” he added.
Mr Akuetteh said the community was ready to listen to proposals from interested investors. However, he noted that any proposal would be carefully examined before the community agreed to move forward.
He warned that allowing an investor to improve the land without a clear agreement could put the community in a difficult position.
According to him, such an arrangement could make the community dependent on the investor and weaken its control over the land.
He also urged the resort’s management to meet with the people affected by the demolition and work towards a peaceful solution to the dispute.
“We are all Ghanaians. You engage them, and you can chart a path for peace. But if you believe you can use the National Security apparatus to forcibly take over your neighbour’s assets, it will not happen. We will use the law and all legal means to stop them,” he said.
The La Community continues to insist that no future development at La Pleasure Beach Resort should take place without proper consultation, respect for its land ownership claims and steps to address the impact of the demolition on affected businesses and livelihoods.
