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

A demolition exercise is ongoing at the La Pleasure Beach in Accra amid heavy security deployment, creating a tense atmosphere as residents, workers and business owners attempt to salvage some valuables from the rubble.

According to multiple media reports, sighted by GhanaWeb on October 2, 2026, the operation is being carried out jointly by personnel from the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service.

Heavy military presence at La Pleasure Beach as demolition begins

There was heavy police and military presence, creating a tense atmosphere at the beachfront as security personnel supervised the ongoing exercise.

Personnel could be seen stationed at various points around the facility to prevent any interruptions.

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According to the reports, security personnel arrived at about 4:00 am and ordered people at the beach to leave the premises.

An eyewitness indicated that affected persons were given only a short window to retrieve their belongings before the demolition began.

He stated that within about 15 minutes of the directive, some structures had already been pulled down.

Several facilities at the La Pleasure Beach have since been destroyed, while others have been partially dismantled.

The development has triggered strong emotions among some workers and residents, with several people seen crying as they watched their source of livelihood crumble.

Account of affected workers

One disgruntled man threatened to turn to robbery as a means of survival.

“Since you guys want us to steal, we will steal. When the foreigners come, we will ‘kwashey’ them physically,” he said.

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The worker said although a verbal warning had been issued about two weeks ago, those at the facility did not expect the authorities to arrive in the early hours of the morning and give them such little time to leave.

MP questions demolition exercise

Member of Parliament for La, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, has also expressed her displeasure over the exercise, arguing that the demolition has affected people who depend on the beach for their livelihoods.

Speaking at the scene, she said the exercise was being led by the Labadi Beach Hotel and its board chairman and claimed 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,” she said.

According to the MP, she had earlier been assured by authorities that the facility would not be demolished after she raised concerns about reports that an operation was being planned.

She said she subsequently contacted relevant authorities, including the board chairman of the Labadi Beach Hotel, but was not given prior notice of the demolition.

“I got wind of the fact that they were going to carry out the demolition here, and I went to the authorities and they assured me that Labadi Beach Hotel would not be demolished,” she indicated.

Watch the videos below

Demolition exercise underway at La Pleasure Beach as excavators pull down structures, with debris piling up across the site.#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/l4RsISVokh

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) October 2, 2026

La Pleasure Beach in Accra is being demolished amid heavy police presence, following weeks of controversy over the future of the beachfront facility.

Management had earlier rejected a 24-hour directive to vacate the premises, citing an ongoing court dispute over ownership of… pic.twitter.com/OCmuu6L138

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) October 2, 2026

“Since you guys want us to steal we will steal. When the foreigners come we will “kwashey” them physical.”

— Disgruntled La Pleasure Beach worker pours out his frustration as he vows to take on robbing tourists, in light of the demolition of his source of livelihood. pic.twitter.com/kRvdQxJtjW

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) October 2, 2026

@ghbrain_ LIVE | Hon. Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, MP for Dadekotopon, visited the demolished zone of La Pleasure Beach. Disturbed by what she saw, she quickly responded to the media and intervened when they were confronted by the military. - #ghbrain ♬ original sound - GHBRAIN

La MP, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah clashes with security personnel during demolition at La Pleasure Beach, expressing disappointment and insisting that local authorities were not informed about the exercise#JoyNews pic.twitter.com/0GjgNq9osr

— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) October 2, 2026