La Pleasure Beach demolition: Management Committee drags SSNIT, two hotels to court

The management of La Pleasure Beach has commenced legal action against the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) and two hotel companies following the demolition of its offices and other structures at the beachfront in Accra.

The action, filed at the High Court on October 23, 2026, seeks to establish the legal authority of the beach's management committee and determine whether the defendants had any lawful justification for the demolition exercise.

The plaintiff, Stanley Anyetei Nunoo, who describes himself as Chairman of the La Pleasure Beach Management Committee, is suing Hotel Investments (Ghana) Limited, La Palm Beach Hotel Limited and SSNIT.

He alleges that the defendants were involved in or facilitated an operation that resulted in the destruction of the committee's management office and other facilities used by licensed operators at the beach.

According to the statement of claim, the demolition disrupted commercial activities at the beachfront and interfered with the committee's ability to carry out its management responsibilities.

Committee seeks declaration of its management rights

At the centre of the legal dispute is the question of which institution or group has the lawful authority to control activities at La Pleasure Beach.

Mr Nunoo maintains that the management committee derives its authority from a Court of Appeal order issued on July 21, 2022.

According to him, the appellate court's decision dissolved an interim management committee that had previously been established by the High Court in April 2013.

He contends that the current committee has since been responsible for managing the beachfront, regulating commercial activities, issuing licences to operators and collecting revenue from businesses operating within the area.

The plaintiff is therefore asking the High Court to affirm the committee's authority to perform these functions.

He further argues that Hotel Investments (Ghana) Limited and La Palm Beach Hotel Limited, which operate Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Beach Hotel respectively, have no ownership or possessory rights over La Pleasure Beach.

According to the statement of claim, the companies' rights in relation to the beachfront are limited to an access licence granted by the management committee.

Alleged dawn demolition sparks legal action

The suit also raises questions about the circumstances surrounding a demolition exercise allegedly carried out at the beach on or about October 2, 2026.

Mr Nunoo claims that personnel from the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana Armed Forces entered the beachfront at dawn and demolished the committee's management office and other structures.

He alleges that furniture, equipment, official records and other property belonging to the committee were either destroyed or removed during the operation.

The demolition, according to the plaintiff, also affected businesses operating under licences issued by the committee, with staff and operators allegedly forced to leave the premises.

The committee maintains that the exercise was carried out without prior notification, an opportunity to be heard or a court order authorising the demolition.

It is consequently asking the High Court to examine the legality of the operation and determine whether the defendants were entitled to undertake or facilitate the actions complained of.

SSNIT raises concerns over unlawful occupation

The court action comes against the background of concerns previously raised by SSNIT about activities on the beachfront adjoining Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

In a statement issued on October 2, 2026, SSNIT disclosed that it had sought assistance from the National Security Council Secretariat over what it described as persistent encroachment, unlawful occupation and unauthorised activities within the area.

The Trust explained that the hotels formed part of its investment portfolio and maintained that it had a responsibility to safeguard those investments in the interests of contributors and pensioners.

However, the La Pleasure Beach Management Committee disputes the suggestion that the hotel companies possess legal rights that would justify interference with its management of the beachfront.

Mr Nunoo further alleges that the defendants acted together or otherwise contributed to the demolition of the committee's facilities.

High Court to determine competing claims

The plaintiff is seeking declarations confirming the committee's management authority and challenging the legality of the demolition exercise.

The case also raises issues concerning the extent of the hotel companies' rights over the beachfront and the authority under which the alleged demolition was undertaken.

The High Court is yet to determine the claims brought against the defendants.

For now, the allegations of unlawful demolition and interference with the committee's operations remain claims advanced by the plaintiff, while the competing positions over the management and use of La Pleasure Beach await judicial determination.