A committee will be constituted early next week to determine appropriate compensation for persons whose businesses and property were affected by the recent demolition of the La Pleasure Beach.
The committee will be made up of representatives of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly, traditional authorities, management of the affected beaches and the Member of Parliament for the area, Naa Odoley Sowah.
Mrs Sowah, who is also the Deputy Minister of Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, disclosed this when she appeared before the Committee on Local Government and Decentralisation in Parliament yesterday.
She said data had already been gathered on persons displaced by the exercise and their circumstances would be assessed to determine the form of compensation to be provided.
She, however, stopped short of giving the exact nature and amount of compensation to be determined, saying that “the matter will be discussed by the committee before a decision will be reached”.
“We have their data and the committee is going to look at what we are going to give to them as compensation.
“So those affected will be compensated, and the decision for the type of compensation has not been finalised, but as the MP, I am following up deeply on that to ensure that everybody gets what they are supposed to get,” she said.
Appearance
The MP led officials from the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA) to appear before the committee to respond to questions over the demolition of beach facilities and related flood mitigation exercises in parts of the Greater Accra Region.
Needs basis
The Deputy Minister of Local Government said the committee would also consider the needs of persons who might have to be relocated as well as those who might require financial compensation.
She explained that the exercise involving the La Pleasure Beach facilities was separate from the demolition of La Boma, which she said would be dealt with under a different arrangement.
“La Boma Beach demolition is a different issue, but subsequently La Boma concerns will come up,” she said.
La Boma demolition
Giving an account of the La Boma demolition, the Chief Executive for LaDMA, Alfredos Nii Anyetei, told the committee that the exercise was undertaken as part of measures to address flooding and restore an ecological site.
He said the assembly was not consulted but was shown in a meeting the locations where the exercise would be undertaken.
Mr Anyetei also said he was not aware that the MP had been specifically informed before the exercise.
Mandate
The Chairperson of the committee, Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr, said LaDMA had the mandate and technical personnel to monitor development and protect watercourses within their areas.
She urged the assemblies to strengthen their enforcement mechanisms to prevent people from refilling areas that had been dredged or cleared to improve drainage.
The chairperson of the committee said although government agencies could intervene in emergency situations, assemblies should take responsibility for developments within their jurisdictions.
Mrs Sawyerr said the MP and the assembly must ensure that the concerns of affected persons were properly addressed, giving the assurance that “we will follow up on the outcome of the committee's work”.
National Security last Friday demolished structures within the La Pleasure Beach and an adjoining popular leisure spot, the Polo Beach Club, at the request of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).
The exercise did not spare any structure, including another popular club, the Vienna City, which is within the pleasure beach, the country’s oldest and most popular beach destination.
The security post, tollbooth and administration block of the resort were also destroyed.
The beach resort lies between the La Beach Hotel and the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. both facilities are owned by the SSNIT.
The Polo Beach Club, which lies to the East of the five-star Labadi Beach Hotel and borders the Kpeshie Lagoon estuary to its west, was also brought down by the operatives.
In a statement, SSNIT said it sought the urgent intervention of the National Security Council Secretariat to address the persistent unlawful occupation, encroachment and unauthorised activities on the beachfront adjoining and directly in front of the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.
It said the two hotel properties formed part of the investment portfolio of SSNIT and constituted significant national hospitality and tourism assets.
“SSNIT, therefore, has a fiduciary responsibility to safeguard these investments, preserve their value and ensure that they continue to generate sustainable returns for the benefit of contributors and pensioners under the Basic National Social Security Scheme.
It said the hotel assets belonged to Ghanaian workers and pensioners and the continued encroachment posed significant risks, including threats to the safety and security of hotel guests, employees, service providers and visitors.
It said the encroachment also provided unauthorised access and proximity to sensitive guests and operational areas, increasing exposure to fire, sanitation, environmental and public health hazards.
The statement added that it also led to the deterioration of the beachfront and impacted privacy and service standards expected of internationally recognised hospitality facilities.
SSNIT indicated that the beaches “will be cleaned and restored to a safe and desirable state and will remain open to the public.”
