Convener of the OneGhana Movement, Senyo Hosi, has criticised the demolition of La Beach, saying the exercise was carried out without proper consultation with the Ga people.
He said the demolition threatens the livelihoods of thousands of people who depend on the area for their income and daily needs.
Speaking about the issue, in an interview with JoyNews, Hosi expressed concern about the sacrifices made by the Ga people, including the land they have given up for Ghana’s development.
“I am a proud son of a Ga woman. My Ghana people have been very kind to this country. We’ve given up our lands,” he said, monitored by Myroyalfm.com.
Hosi said the Ga people had given land for the country’s capital, but he believes their identity and influence have suffered as a result.
“We’ve given this country its capital even to the detriment of our own identity. We are progressively even becoming minorities in our own space.”
He added that the Ga people deserved respect and recognition for their contributions to the country. He also expressed disappointment that traditional leaders had reportedly received news of the demolition without prior consultation.
“We exercise less influence in this country. Even though our lands and our space and our sacrifices birth the seat of its government, the least we can get is the dignity of respect, the dignity of appreciation and honor of it is the least. To see my chiefs sit there in a press conference and claim a thing like this has happened without any form of consultation is depressing and is disrespectful.”
Senyo Hosi Says La Beach Supported Many Livelihoods
Hosi stressed that La Beach was more than a place for people to visit. He said it had become an important source of income for many people who depended on the area to support themselves and their families.
“Efforts of the Ga people must be respected and appreciated. La Beach was not just a beach. It was the livelihoods for people. People economically depended on it for meaning in their lives. We sat down, we saw it go.”
He also recalled visiting La Beach as a child and said the area had long been a place for recreation and business. He questioned why action was taken only after the area had become part of people’s lives and livelihoods.
“We had leaders who never came to tell us that it was out of plan. We had politicians come and also invest around it. We were always going to La Beach as children. We went to La Beach. We played to be there. There were vendors who were there.”
Questions Over Planning and Illegal Structures
Hosi called for proper planning and questioned why the demolition took place at this stage if the structures were illegal.
He also referred to the money spent on an institution he identified as Lisba and pointed to the presence of other institutions in the area, including a military facility nearby.
“If this is it, then plan properly. We spent money with an institution called Lisba. We have institutions there. The military is just across the street. So if these were illegal structures, why did we all wait till this point? You know, it’s not Sodom and Gomorrah.”
La Beach’s Role in the Local Economy
Hosi said La Beach had become an important part of the area’s economic and social life. He described it as a place that supported tourism, entertainment and recreation.
He also said money collected from the area helped fund local councils.
“This has become a critical part of our socioeconomic infrastructure, our tourism infrastructure, our entertainment and recreational infrastructure. It is a major feature of it. We collect monies there to fund our councils.”
Hosi expressed sadness over the demolition and urged that the Ga people should not be treated as though their concerns and contributions do not matter.
“So when we do it this way, my heart breaks. You can’t continue to wrap our face around as if we are a people who don’t matter. It’s not right.”
