COLA demands immediate compensation for Laboma, La Pleasure Beach demolition victims

The Coalition of La Associations (COLA) has called on the government to provide immediate and fair compensation to businesses and vendors affected by the recent demolition exercises at Laboma Beach Resort and La Pleasure Beach, warning that failure to address their concerns within seven days could trigger further lawful action.

The Coalition described the demolitions as painful, troubling and economically devastating, stressing that the destruction of businesses along the La coastline has left hundreds of families facing uncertainty over their livelihoods.

In a press statement signed by its First Vice Chairman, Daniel M K Okpoti, COLA expressed deep disappointment over the manner in which the exercises were conducted and the economic hardship imposed on affected operators.

According to the Coalition, the La coastline has, for generations, served as an important source of employment, tourism revenue and economic opportunities for residents, particularly young people and women.

It noted that the beaches are not merely recreational destinations but form an integral part of the history, identity and economic survival of the La community.

The statement recalled that on September 13, 2026, several structures at Laboma Beach Resort were demolished by the government's Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force as part of efforts to restore the Kpeshie Lagoon and address flooding in surrounding communities.

A second demolition exercise was carried out on October 2, 2026, at La Pleasure Beach and adjoining beachfront areas, affecting restaurants, bars and other commercial establishments.

COLA maintained that while it supports environmental protection, flood prevention and sustainable development, such interventions must not come at the expense of people's livelihoods.

"We recognise the importance of protecting the Kpeshie Lagoon and ensuring that our communities are safe. But protecting the environment and protecting people's livelihoods should not be treated as competing interests. Government must be able to do both," the statement emphasised.

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Citing figures from the Ghana Tourism Federation, COLA disclosed that approximately 85 businesses were affected by the demolition at La Pleasure Beach alone, placing an estimated 4,000 jobs at risk.

The Coalition indicated that the figures exclude businesses and vendors who suffered losses during the earlier demolition at Laboma Beach Resort.

It expressed concern that many affected operators, including women and small-scale traders, depend entirely on their businesses to support their families, pay school fees, settle debts and meet other financial obligations.

COLA further noted that some affected businesses had operated along the coastline for decades, making their destruction particularly devastating.

"Behind every affected business is a family, and behind every lost job is someone who must pay rent, feed children, settle school fees or repay a loan," the Coalition stated.

It also raised concerns over reports that some operators at La Pleasure Beach were allegedly given insufficient time to retrieve their belongings before their structures were demolished.

According to COLA, these developments raise serious questions about stakeholder consultation, the adequacy of notices issued to affected businesses and the treatment of operators who may have obtained permits from public institutions.

"You cannot protect a community from flooding while remaining indifferent to the economic hardship your actions leave behind," the statement added.

The Coalition welcomed the announcement of a proposed committee to assess compensation for businesses affected by the La Pleasure Beach demolition but insisted that victims of the Laboma Beach Resort exercise must not be excluded.

It argued that although the two demolition exercises may have been undertaken for different reasons, the financial hardship experienced by affected operators remains the same.

COLA therefore demanded a transparent, fair and properly documented compensation process covering destroyed structures, equipment, furniture, stock and other business assets, as well as losses arising from disruptions to livelihoods.

The group further called for affected operators to be given an opportunity to present permits, ownership documents and other relevant evidence where the legal status of their properties is disputed.

It also urged the government to consider immediate financial relief for vulnerable victims, particularly women, small-scale traders and workers who have lost their principal sources of income.

"The affected vendors are not asking for charity. They are asking for their losses to be fairly assessed and for the responsible institutions to treat them with dignity," COLA stressed.

Turning its attention to Laboma Beach Resort, the Coalition expressed concern over the lack of clarity regarding the boundaries of the required buffer zone along the Kpeshie Lagoon.

It called on the relevant government agencies to urgently conduct an official survey and clearly demarcate the protected area to prevent further uncertainty.

COLA also requested that a written demarcation plan be provided to the resort's management, together with the necessary guidance to facilitate the construction of a secure perimeter fence without encroaching on the protected zone.

While welcoming plans for ecological rehabilitation of the Kpeshie Lagoon and mangrove restoration, the Coalition insisted that Laboma Beach Resort's management must be actively involved in the planning, consultation and implementation processes.

As part of efforts to address the situation, COLA presented eight demands to the government and relevant institutions.

These include immediate and fair compensation for affected operators at both beaches, suspension of further non-emergency demolitions without meaningful stakeholder consultation, and structured dialogue involving the La Traditional Council, La DadeKotopon Municipal Assembly, COLA, the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), and affected businesses.

The Coalition also demanded that displaced businesses be given priority in any future redevelopment of the beachfront, alongside an independent review of the conduct of the demolition exercises.

Other demands include urgent demarcation of the Kpeshie Lagoon buffer zone, the inclusion of Laboma Beach Resort in ecological restoration plans, and the development of a sustainable and comprehensive plan for the entire La coastline.

COLA maintained that future development projects must strike a balance between environmental protection, economic opportunities and the welfare of local communities.

Meanwhile, the Coalition has given the relevant authorities seven days to provide a meaningful response to its concerns.

It warned that failure to address the issues could compel the group to pursue further lawful and peaceful measures, including petitions to the Presidency and Parliament, public demonstrations, engagement with civil society organisations and the media, as well as appropriate legal action.

Despite the ultimatum, COLA reiterated its commitment to peaceful dialogue and constructive engagement with government institutions.

"We do not seek confrontation. We seek fairness, accountability and respect for our people," the statement said.

The Coalition emphasised that development must have a human face, arguing that the economic and emotional consequences of the demolitions cannot be ignored simply because the affected structures have been cleared.

"The rubble may have been cleared from the beaches, but the financial and emotional burden remains with the families whose livelihoods were destroyed," it stated.



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