Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations and leader of the Anti-Flood Taskforce, Stan Xoese Dogbe, has 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, October 2, 2026, he said the exercise was carried out under the supervision of National Security at the request of Labadi Beach Hotel.

MP Storms Site, Heavy Security: Scenes from La Pleasure demolition exercise

“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.

“The action has nothing to do with the work of the Taskforce along the Kpeshie lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa, behind Mayfair Estates, etc., that are efforts towards supporting the Ministry of Works, Housing and Water Resources to mitigate any future floods,” he clarified.

According to Dogbe, Friday’s exercise involved structures built on the beach in front of Labadi Beach Hotel, including the Polo Beach Club and other facilities after the hotel had raised concerns that the structures were affecting the safety and tranquillity of the facility, as well as, the experience of visitors.

“These are structures, some permanently built (Polo Beach Club and others) on the beach in front of the hotel, and which, according to the business, is adversely affecting the safety, tranquillity and reputation of the Hotel, diminishing the visitor experience and undermining the orderly management of one of Ghana's most important tourism destinations.

“While the hotel will be able to explain, in more detail, the necessity for its action to reclaim its beachfront, 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 stated.

“I have seen drone shots and other short videos. Is the Labadi Beach Hotel not right in reclaiming its beachfront? I am not talking about the La Pleasure Beach, please,” he concluded.

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Meanwhile, the MP for La, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has expressed her displeasure over the exercise, stating that government officials had not been informed about the operation.

“It is the Labadi Beach Hotel, with their board chairman, who is leading this exercise. Government has no knowledge of it,” she said.



MAG/VPO

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