General News of Saturday, 3 October 2026
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
The management of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has reacted to the demolition exercise reportedly conducted by National Security operatives at the beachfront of its hotels on Friday, October 2, 2026.
SSNIT has explained its decision to seek the intervention of National Security to remove unauthorised occupants and structures from the beachfront adjoining the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
According to SSNIT, the two hotel properties form part of its investment portfolio and constitute significant national hospitality and tourism assets.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 2, 2026, SSNIT said it had sought the urgent intervention of the National Security Council Secretariat to address what it described as persistent unlawful occupation, encroachment and unauthorised activities on the beachfront adjoining and directly in front of the two hotels.
The Trust said it has a fiduciary responsibility to safeguard the investments, preserve their value and ensure that they continue to generate sustainable returns for contributors and pensioners under the Basic National Social Security Scheme.
“These assets belong to the workers and pensioners of Ghana,” SSNIT stated.
The Trust said the continued encroachment had created several risks, including threats to the safety and security of hotel guests, employees, service providers and visitors.
It also cited unauthorised access and proximity to sensitive guest and operational areas, increased exposure to fire, sanitation, environmental and public health hazards, and the deterioration of the beachfront, privacy and service standards expected of internationally recognised hospitality facilities.
SSNIT further said construction activities on the beachfront and beach sand were contributing to the degradation of the coastal ecosystem.
According to the Trust, the situation also posed reputational risks to the hotels, SSNIT and Ghana’s tourism industry, while disrupting hotel operations and the guest beach experience.
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It added that the continued encroachment could make the eventual recovery of the affected lands increasingly difficult and costly.
“In view of the foregoing, SSNIT requested support from National Security to protect the assets belonging to Ghanaian workers,” the statement said.
SSNIT also sought to clarify what would happen to the beachfront following the removal exercise.
“The beaches will be cleaned and restored to a safe and desirable state and will remain open to the public,” it said.
The statement by SSNIT corroborates that of Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations and leader of the Anti-Flood Taskforce, Stan Xoese Dogbe, who had earlier clarified that the demolition exercise conducted on Friday, October 2, 2026, along a section of the Labadi beachfront was not part of the government's flood mitigation efforts.
Reacting to several videos from the demolished site on Facebook on Friday, Stan Dogbe said the exercise was carried out under the supervision of National Security at the request of Labadi Beach Hotel.
"Let's not get it twisted. Friday's action along a section of the beachfront was not a Flood Mitigation Action by the government task force," he said.
Dogbe explained that the exercise was different from the work of the Anti-Flood Taskforce in areas including the Kpeshie Lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa and behind Mayfair Estates.
He said those projects were being carried out to support the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources in efforts to prevent future flooding.
Stan Dogbe breaks silence on Labadi Beach demolition exercise
The demolition exercise became a matter of public debate after the Member of Parliament for La, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, who doubles as the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, stormed the site of the exercise with some of her constituents to express her displeasure, arguing that the demolition had affected people who depend on the beach for their livelihoods.
Speaking at the scene, she said the Labadi Beach Hotel and its board chairman were leading the exercise and claimed that government officials had not been informed about the operation.
"It is the Labadi Beach Hotel, with its board chairman, who is leading this exercise. The government has no knowledge," she said.
According to the MP, authorities had earlier assured her that the facility would not be demolished after she raised concerns about reports that an operation was being planned.
Read the statement by the management of SSNIT below:

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