The La community is preparing to take legal action over the demolition of structures at La Pleasure Beach in Accra, with its lawyer, Nsiah Akuetteh, insisting that the disputed land cannot be handed over to an investor without resolving questions surrounding ownership.
Mr Akuetteh says the legal team has begun preparations to challenge the demolition, which he describes as trespass.
“We will go to court. Already we’ve started the preparation, because it’s pure trespass,” he said.
He warned that the legal team would also challenge any attempt to transfer the property to an investor, insisting that those who do not own the land cannot lawfully give it away.
“If they did it to give the land to any investor, we have already indicated that you cannot give what you don’t have,” he added.
Mr Akuetteh says the community will pursue further legal action if an investor takes possession of the disputed land.
The lawyer also criticised how the demolition was carried out, arguing that the affected business owners and those claiming ownership of the premises should have been consulted before pursuing any redevelopment plans.
He said potential investors should engage the relevant parties and negotiate a way forward rather than use security personnel to remove structures.
“You cannot use soldiers or land guards or anybody to take somebody’s property for your business,” he said.
He called for engagement with the affected business owners to discuss their losses and possible solutions.
“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.
The demolition, which took place on Friday, October 2, has affected more than 85 businesses and over 4,000 people, leaving operators facing losses and uncertainty over their livelihoods.
Former Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Vincent Sowah, has also called for the La community’s land rights to be recognised, insisting that the community must be involved in decisions concerning its land.
“We may not have a La Manche today. We may not have an occupant on the stool today, but La is not dead. La is not a no man’s land,” he said.
Mr Sowah added that the community would not allow its land to be taken over without its consent.
“Nobody will take an inch of La land and take it away or enjoy of it without our saying so,” he said.
He also linked the dispute to the broader acquisition of land for the Ghana International Trade Fair, claiming that compensation had not been paid.
“I want to state this also categorically, that the Trade Fair acquisition was an acquisition of a whole. So in discussing this beach issue, it raises the bigger issue of the Trade Fair acquisition. No compensation has been paid,” he said.
Mr Sowah called on the state to engage the La traditional authorities and community members to address the concerns over land ownership and compensation.
“It’s about time the state sits with the stool or the La people and does the right thing,” he said.
He cited the return of lands to the Golden Stool in Kumasi as an example, questioning why similar consideration could not be given to the La stool and its people.
“We have seen what has happened to Patase lands in Kumasi. Kumasi lands have been returned to the Golden Stool. So why not lands to the La stool and the La people? Why not?” he asked.
The demolition has left business operators facing uncertainty over their investments and when they may be able to resume operations.
The planned court action is expected to provide an avenue for the parties to present their respective claims over the disputed land.
Questions remain over the ownership of the beachfront, the circumstances surrounding its acquisition and the future of businesses affected by the demolition.