The Coalition of La Associations, a community group representing residents and business owners in La, Ghana, has given authorities seven days to respond to their demands for compensation after recent demolitions at Laboma Beach Resort and La Pleasure Beach. The group described the demolitions as painful, troubling, and economically devastating for families in the La community. The demolitions, which occurred on September 13 and October 2, 2026, left dozens of businesses destroyed without compensation.
According to the Coalition of La Associations, the La coastline has provided employment, supported families, drawn tourists, and shaped the identity of the area for generations. The manner of the demolitions has made it difficult for residents to accept. The group's statement, signed by its 1st Vice Chairman, Daniel M. K. Okpoti, emphasized that the community is seeking fair compensation for affected traders and vendors. The demolitions were carried out by the government's Post-Flood Mitigation Task Force as part of an effort to restore the Kpeshie Lagoon and curb flooding in nearby communities.
The demolitions affected a significant number of businesses, with 85 businesses impacted at La Pleasure Beach alone, putting roughly 4,000 jobs at risk, many of them held by women. The Coalition of La Associations noted that these numbers do not capture the losses suffered by vendors at Laboma Beach Resort. The group's demands include immediate and fair compensation for affected vendors at both beaches, a halt to further demolitions without consultation, and structured engagement involving the La Traditional Council and affected operators.
The dispute over the beachfront was already before the courts before the Coalition of La Associations' statement. La Pleasure Beach's management committee has sued the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and two hotel companies over the demolition of its office, asking a court to settle who actually controls the stretch of beachfront. The Coalition of La Associations' statement adds a broader community voice to that legal battle, insisting that any compensation arrangement must cover victims at both Laboma and La Pleasure Beach.
The Coalition of La Associations listed eight demands, including an independent review of how the demolitions were conducted and urgent demarcation of the Kpeshie Lagoon buffer zone. The group also called for a long-term plan covering the entire La coastline. The coalition has given the relevant authorities seven days from its statement to provide a meaningful response. Should its concerns go unaddressed, the coalition said it would consider further action, including petitions to the Presidency and Parliament.
The group's demands are supported by the Ghana Tourism Federation, which provided figures on the number of businesses affected and jobs at risk. The Coalition of La Associations emphasized that a trader who lost a restaurant at Laboma faces the same hardship as one whose business was destroyed at La Pleasure Beach, and that both deserve equal treatment. The coalition's statement highlights the need for a comprehensive approach to addressing the impact of the demolitions on the La community.
No government institution had issued a public response to the Coalition of La Associations' demands at the time of the coalition's statement, and the court case between La Pleasure Beach's management and SSNIT remains pending. The Coalition of La Associations' statement has added a new dimension to the dispute, emphasizing the need for fair compensation and a long-term plan for the La coastline.
Key points
- The Coalition of La Associations demands fair compensation for traders and vendors affected by the demolitions.
- The demolitions affected 85 businesses at La Pleasure Beach, putting 4,000 jobs at risk.
- The Coalition of La Associations has given authorities seven days to respond to their demands.
