A demolition exercise has begun at the La Pleasure Beach in Accra, with a heavy security presence at the facility as residents, workers and businesses attempt to retrieve their belongings.
The exercise is being carried out jointly by personnel of the 48 Engineer Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ghana Police Service.
According to a worker at the facility, security personnel arrived at about 4:00 a.m. and instructed residents and workers to vacate the premises.
He said those at the facility were given only a short period to remove their belongings before the demolition began.
Several structures have since been completely demolished, while others have been partially pulled down.
Workers and residents have been seen moving through the affected areas, clearing rubble and debris and attempting to retrieve personal belongings and other items from the demolished structures.
Soldiers and police officers remain at the site to supervise the exercise. Security personnel have also prevented residents and other individuals from returning to sections where demolition has already taken place.
The exercise has created a tense atmosphere at the facility, with some workers and residents, particularly those who depend on the beach for their livelihoods, seen crying as they watched the demolition.
Speaking to JoyNews’ Ramat Bashiru, one worker said the demolition came unexpectedly.
According to him, although those at the facility had received a verbal notice about two weeks earlier, they did not expect the exercise to take place so soon.
He said security personnel arrived at about 4:00 a.m. and ordered them to leave, adding that demolition began roughly 15 minutes after the instruction was given.
Demolition follows land dispute
The demolition follows weeks of controversy over the future of the La Pleasure Beach.
Management of the facility had previously resisted a directive to vacate the premises, arguing that there was an ongoing court dispute over ownership of the land.
The latest exercise has now resulted in the demolition of several structures at the facility, with security personnel maintaining control of the affected areas as workers and residents salvage their belongings.
