Bawumia pledges to rebuild La Pleasure Beach economy after demolition.

The 2024 Election Presidential candidate and New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer Dr Mahamudu Bawumia has pledged to rebuild the economic hub of La Pleasure Beach and restore its status as a major tourism and commercial enclave if elected president.

In a statement issued in Kumasi on Saturday, October 3, 2026, Dr Bawumia described La Pleasure Beach as socially, economically, culturally and internationally significant. He said the resort had become one of Ghana’s vibrant beach destinations, supporting thousands of livelihoods, particularly among young people. His comments follow the demolition of structures at the La Beach area in Accra on Friday, October 2.

The operation was supervised by personnel of the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces, with support from the Ghana Police Service. Several businesses and facilities, including La Pleasure Beach and the Polo Beach Club, were affected.

Dr Bawumia described the exercise as unfortunate, unwarranted and painful. He expressed concern that movable assets which could have been removed by their owners were also destroyed during the demolition, resulting in further losses for business operators.

The exercise has generated controversy over land ownership, the authority behind the demolition and the notice given to affected operators. Management of La Pleasure Beach Resort has maintained that the land belongs to the Ga authorities and that an ownership dispute is pending before the courts.

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), however, said it sought National Security’s intervention to address what it described as unlawful occupation, encroachment, sanitation problems and security risks around the beachfront adjoining the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. SSNIT said the two hotels formed part of its investment portfolio and that the affected beaches would be cleaned and restored.

Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations, Stan Dogbe, clarified that the demolition was not part of the government’s flood-mitigation exercise. He said it was carried out under National Security’s supervision at the request of the Labadi Beach Hotel, although the hotel’s alleged role and the ownership of the affected land remain subjects of public dispute.

Dr Bawumia said a future NPP administration would issue leases to businesses operating at the site and redesign the area to meet appropriate standards. He also pledged to create a framework that would allow the Labadi Beach Hotel and smaller businesses to coexist, engage the owners of Laboma Beach to resolve their concerns, and address flooding and environmental challenges around the lagoon.