La Beach demolition: We sought urgent intervention of National Security to address persistent encroachment - SSNIT

The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) disclosed the reasons behind the demolition of La Beach on Friday. The SSNIT explained that they had sought urgent intervention from the National Security Council Secretariat to address persistent unlawful occupation, encroachment, and unauthorized activities on the beachfront adjacent to their Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

These two hotels are part of SSNIT's investment portfolio and are valuable national hospitality and tourism assets, hence, vital to the welfare of workers and pensioners under the Basic National Social Security Scheme.

The continued encroachment posed several risks, including threats to safety and security, unauthorized access to sensitive areas, heightened exposure to fire, sanitation, environmental, and public-health hazards, deterioration of the beachfront and service standards, damage to the coastal ecosystem from construction activities, reputational damage to the hotels, SSNIT, and Ghana's tourism industry, disruption of hotel operations, and increased difficulty and cost in recovering the affected lands.

SSNIT therefore prioritized the protection of these assets belonging to Ghanaian workers and requested support from the National Security Council Secretariat. The beaches will be cleaned and restored to a safe and desirable state and will remain open to the public.