The Deputy Minister for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs, Naa Odoley Sowah, has revealed that a committee is expected to be set up by early next week to decide how persons whose businesses and properties were affected by the recent demolition at La Pleasure Beach in Accra should be compensated.
The committee, according to her, will include representatives of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), the La Dadekotopon Municipal Assembly (LaDMA), traditional authorities and the management of the affected beaches. Mrs Sowah, who is the Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, will also be part of the committee.
She announced this when she appeared before Parliament’s Committee on Local Government and Decentralisation on Tuesday, October 6.
She said data on the displaced persons had already been collected.
“We have gotten their data, and the committee is going to look at what we are going to give to them as compensation. So those affected will be compensated, and the decision for the type of compensation has not been finalised, but as the MP I am following up deeply on that to ensure that everybody gets what they are supposed to get,” she said.
She said the committee would also look at the needs of those who may have to be relocated, as well as those who may need financial compensation.
Speaking as the committee questioned LaDMA officials on the demolition of beach facilities and related flood control work in parts of the Greater Accra Region, Mrs Sowah stressed that the La Pleasure Beach exercise is separate from the demolition at Laboma, which she said would be handled under a different arrangement.
Laboma demolition
Briefing the committee on Laboma, the Municipal Chief Executive of LaDMA, Alfredos Nii Anyetei, said the exercise was carried out to tackle flooding and restore an ecological site.
He said the assembly was not consulted but was only shown the affected locations during a meeting. He added that he was unaware whether the MP had been specifically told before the work started.
The committee’s Chairperson, Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr, said LaDMA has the mandate and technical staff to monitor developments and protect waterways in its area, and urged it to tighten enforcement to stop people from refilling areas that have been dredged or cleared to improve drainage.
She said central government agencies can step in during emergencies, but municipal and district assemblies must take responsibility for developments within their jurisdictions.
Mrs Sawyerr asked the MP and the assembly to make sure the concerns of those affected are properly addressed, and promised that her committee will follow up on the outcome of the compensation committee’s work.
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