Former NPP National Chairman Freddie Blay has disputed claims over the ownership of land occupied by some businesses along the La Beach beachfront, saying compensation was paid to the La Traditional Council more than 60 years ago.

“I have information that over 60 years compensation was paid to the La Traditional Council for the land,” he said.

Blay also cited claims by the La Traditional Council that 85 people operating from the area pay rent to the stool, arguing that this challenges the description of the businesses as encroachers.

“The La Traditional Council has even come out to say that 85 people from there pay rent to the stool, so they are not encroachers,” he said.

He further questioned whether some members of the SSNIT Board of Trustees had personally visited the beachfront before decisions were taken on the affected businesses.

“Some of the SSNIT Board of Trustees, some of them have not even been to the beachfront to see what is going there,” he claimed.

Blay warned that the demolition and clearance exercise could undermine the growing tourism economy around the beachfront and affect Ghana’s hospitality sector.

“Those who took the decision, I think they have done a great disservice to the country. The hospitality industry is one growing one and that place is a growing economy,” he said.