The management committee of La Pleasure Beach in Ghana has filed a lawsuit against Hotel Investments (Ghana) Limited, La Palm Beach Hotel Limited, and the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) over the recent demolition of structures at the beachfront. The committee, led by Chairman Stanley Anyetei Nunoo, claims the defendants unlawfully demolished their management office and other licensed structures, interfering with their operations. The suit was filed at the High Court in Accra on October 27, 2026.
According to the statement of claim, the management committee was established following a Court of Appeal order on July 21, 2022, which dissolved an interim management committee established by the High Court in April 2013. The committee has been managing the beach, issuing licenses to operators, regulating activities, and generating revenue. The plaintiff argues that the two hotel companies have no proprietary or possessory interest in La Pleasure Beach, except for an access license granted by the committee.
The demolition occurred on October 2, 2026, when security personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces entered La Pleasure Beach at dawn and destroyed the committee's management office and other structures. Equipment, furniture, files, records, and other properties were allegedly destroyed or removed, while staff and licensed operators were chased away. The suit alleges that the operation was carried out without a court order, warrant, prior notice, or hearing for the management committee.
SSNIT's position was referenced in the suit, stating that they sought the intervention of the National Security Council Secretariat over alleged persistent unlawful occupation, encroachment, and unauthorized activities on the beachfront adjoining Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. SSNIT claimed that the hotels were part of its investment portfolio and that it had a responsibility to protect those investments for the benefit of contributors and pensioners.
The management committee is seeking several orders from the High Court, including a declaration confirming their authority to manage, control, regulate, and license activities at La Pleasure Beach. They are also seeking a declaration that the defendants acted unlawfully in demolishing structures and interfering with their operations. An injunction is sought to restrain the defendants from taking over or interfering with the beach's management and possession.
The plaintiff is also seeking an order to restore possession and management of the beach to the committee, an independent valuation of properties allegedly damaged, and compensation for alleged property damage, loss of revenue, loss of business, and interference with operations. Aggravated and exemplary damages, interest, and legal costs are also being sought. The court may consider further orders as appropriate.
The lawsuit highlights the ongoing disputes over the management and control of La Pleasure Beach in Ghana. The management committee's actions aim to assert their authority and protect their interests, while the defendants' actions have raised questions about the legitimacy of their involvement in the beach's management. The case will likely have significant implications for the stakeholders involved.
Key points
- La Pleasure Beach management committee sues two hotels and SSNIT over demolition
- The demolition occurred without a court order, warrant, prior notice, or hearing for the management committee
- The committee seeks declarations, injunctions, and compensation for damages and losses incurred
