The La Community has threatened to use legal means to halt the redevelopment of La Pleasure Beach Resort.

According to the Lawyer for the community, Nsiah Akuetteh, preparations were underway to challenge what he described as an unlawful intrusion onto the land, warning that any investor seeking to develop the site could also face legal action.

La Pleasure Beach demolition victims to be compensated - Government

Speaking recently at a press conference, Akuetteh said neither La Palm nor the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) could proceed with the redevelopment of land that did not belong to them.

“What La Palm and SSNIT have done, if they intend to continue, it will not happen. We will stop it. How are we going to stop it? The land does not belong to them. We will go to court,” he said.

The threat follows the demolition of structures along the La Beach area in Accra, including La Pleasure Beach and the Polo Beach Club near the Labadi Beach Hotel.

Military personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, supported by the Ghana Police Service, supervised the operation and directed vendors and businesses operating in the area to vacate the premises.

Akuetteh said the community had initiated legal action, describing the alleged encroachment as trespass.

He warned that the threat of litigation extended to investors who might accept the land for redevelopment.

“And not only them, but if they did it to give the land to any investor, we have already indicated that you cannot give what you don't have. That will be trespass. If the investor stays there, we'll go to court, we'll get another and stop it. It will not happen,” he said.

He argued that the resort's management and any prospective developers should engage the community and businesses operating on the land instead of proceeding with redevelopment without an agreement.

According to him, the existence of businesses generating profit in the area should be considered in discussions about the site's future.

“They are doing business for profit. They have been declaring profit. So, one business, what you don't have, you cannot use soldiers or land guards or anybody to take somebody's property for your business,” he said.

Akuetteh stressed that the community was not opposed to development but insisted that any proposal must be presented to the landowners for consideration before work begins.

“If there is going to be any development there, you cannot say you are going to develop your neighbour's property. Can you do that? Because you have funds,” he said.

He futher indicated that the La people had the expertise to assess proposals from prospective investors, noting that several parties had expressed interest in developing the beachfront over the years.

“The La people have technocrats. They have people who know books. So, if they bring such proposals, it will be examined. They will be engaged,” he said.

However, he cautioned that allowing an investor to undertake improvements without a clear agreement could leave the community dependent on that investor and undermine its control over the property.

He said developers should present their proposals, engage the landowners and reach an agreement on the terms of any project.

“A wise thing to do would be to stop and engage the people whose things have been destroyed. Then you can talk and see the way forward,” he said.

Akuetteh maintained that the community would resist any attempt to proceed with the redevelopment without its consent, insisting that financial resources or security personnel could not replace proper engagement with those claiming ownership of the land.

JKB/VPO

Inside Ghana’s First 950,000-Barrel Sankofa Oil Shipment | Exclusive Tour