Former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has disclosed that his son, Kwaw Worsemao Blay, obtained a land lease for Polo Beach Club from the La Traditional Council. According to Blay, his son was directed to the traditional authorities after engaging with the management of the Labadi Beach Hotel over the use of the land. This clarification comes after the recent demolition of Polo Beach Club as part of an exercise targeting structures along the La Beach area.
Blay explained that his son had spoken to the hotel and was told to speak with the La Traditional Council, which subsequently allocated the land to him. He mentioned that there was a disagreement between his son and the hotel over the use of a portion of land for parking. The hotel allegedly refused to provide parking space for the facility, prompting Blay's son to return to the traditional authorities, who allocated land to him.
The dispute between Polo Beach Club and Labadi Beach Hotel involved noise levels and ownership of the property. Blay stated that the court directed his son to reduce the sound level on an interim basis, which he complied with. Regarding ownership, the court indicated that the hotel would have to produce documents proving ownership if it claimed the land belonged to it. The court ultimately ruled that the matter was not for them, and the hotel was required to provide documentation.
Blay revealed that the matter remained before the court until the hotel recently discontinued the case. Following the discontinuation, the hotel allegedly engaged the National Security Secretariat and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) in efforts to have the property removed. Blay claimed that his son was not contacted before the demolition exercise and that the family only heard rumors that authorities were planning to take action.
According to Blay, security personnel arrived at the facility at dawn and demolished the property without giving his son or his staff adequate opportunity to remove their belongings. He described the demolition as an attempt to intimidate his son and described the actions of SSNIT as unjustified. Blay disputes the characterization of the businesses as encroachers, insisting that commercial activities have existed along the beachfront for decades.
Blay maintained that the beachfront has developed into a significant tourism and entertainment economy and argued that the demolition exercise could have negative consequences for the hospitality sector. He stated that the La Traditional Council has indicated that several operators in the area pay rent to the traditional authorities. This development has sparked concerns about the impact on the local economy and the future of similar businesses along the beachfront.
The demolition of Polo Beach Club has sparked controversy, with SSNIT justifying the action as part of efforts to remove unauthorized occupants and activities from the beachfronts adjoining the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. However, Blay's account of events and the history of the land lease have raised questions about the legitimacy of the demolition and the motives of the parties involved.
Key points
- Freddie Blay's son secured a land lease for Polo Beach Club from the La Traditional Council.
- The demolition of Polo Beach Club has sparked controversy over the legitimacy of the action and its impact on the local economy.
- Blay disputes the characterization of businesses along the beachfront as encroachers.
