On October 2, 2026, National Security led a demolition exercise at the Labadi Beach Hotel beachfront in Ghana, affecting several structures, including the Polo Beach Club. The club, linked to Kwame Blay, son of former NPP National Chairman Freddie Blay, has been at the center of public debate and controversy. The demolition has reignited a long-running dispute over the beachfront, with allegations of unauthorized occupation and breaches of the Labadi Beach Hotel's lease agreement.
The controversy surrounding the Polo Beach Club dates back to 2022, when then-Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, made allegations of state capture. Ablakwa claimed that Kwame Blay had attempted to claim ownership of the beachfront, which would make the Labadi Beach Hotel the only beachfront hotel in the world without exclusive control over its entire beachfront. These allegations led to a series of court proceedings and public debates.
In December 2024, a High Court in Accra granted an interim injunction barring Spartan Ives Limited, a company connected to Kwame Blay, from accessing the contested land and operating the Polo Beach Club. The order restrained the company from trespassing on approximately 0.54 acres of land used as a car park and event venue and from using the beachfront in breach of the Labadi Beach Hotel's lease agreement dating back to November 27, 1990.
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) defended the demolition exercise, stating that it had requested National Security's assistance to remove unauthorized occupants and structures adjacent to both the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, both part of its investment portfolio. SSNIT cited fire hazards, sanitation risks, environmental degradation, and threats to hotel operations and guest privacy as justification for the intervention.
According to SSNIT, the assets in question belong to the workers and pensioners of Ghana. The Trust emphasized its responsibility to protect these assets and ensure their integrity. The demolition exercise was carried out to address concerns over safety and unauthorized occupation.
Earlier, Stan Dogbe explained that the La beachfront demolition was carried out at the Labadi Beach Hotel's request, not as part of the government's flood mitigation programme. The clearance included the Polo Beach Club, while a land ownership dispute and questions from the local MP have kept the operation in the spotlight.
The demolition has raised questions about the management of Ghana's beachfronts and the role of various stakeholders, including government agencies, private companies, and individuals. The controversy highlights the need for clarity on the ownership and management of these critical assets.
Key points
- The demolition exercise at Labadi Beach Hotel beachfront was led by National Security on October 2, 2026.
- The Polo Beach Club, linked to Kwame Blay, was among the structures affected by the demolition.
- SSNIT defended the demolition, citing fire hazards, sanitation risks, and threats to hotel operations and guest privacy.
