The La Traditional Council has announced the suspension of plans by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to redevelop the demolished La Pleasure Beach Resort.
The decision follows a high-level meeting involving SSNIT, the management of Labadi Beach Hotel, the Minister for Local Government, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and other stakeholders.
Speaking at a press conference on Wednesday, October 7, the La Shikitele, Nii Adjei Koofeh IV, said the Traditional Council remains dissatisfied with the manner in which the demolition was carried out, particularly the lack of prior consultation.
“What we said at the meeting was that, firstly, we were very aggrieved and unhappy about the approach because we were not engaged and involved,” he said.
According to him, the Council considers itself a primary stakeholder as the landowner and should have been informed before the demolition exercise.
“National Security said it is not every operation or exercise that people need to know. We told them that we are primary stakeholders as the landowners,” he added.
Nii Adjei Koofeh IV further disclosed that SSNIT and National Security apologised to the Council over the lack of prior engagement.
He said the stakeholders have now agreed to put the proposed redevelopment on hold while a committee examines the issues and reviews SSNIT’s plans for the site.
“The National Security also apologized for not engaging us before the exercise was carried out. On the way forward, they said they want everything to be done according to due process and proper arrangements. So the intended redevelopment that SNIT wants to start should be put on hold.
“Now they are going to form a committee to go into the issues and then consider the plans that SSNIT has for the place for us to come to an amicable settlement that will lead to the satisfaction of all stakeholders,” he said.
The Traditional Council is also demanding that its interests, as well as those of La indigenes employed at the facility, are protected in any future arrangement.
Source: Citi Newsroom
