What was billed as an anti-flood operation has instead exposed a bitter land dispute, leaving businesses destroyed, a lawmaker in tears, and government officials scrambling to distance themselves from the chaos

The pre-dawn demolition of beachfront structures near one of Ghana’s most iconic hotels has ignited a political firestorm, with a senior government official insisting the controversial operation was not a state-led flood mitigation exercise but a private request from the Labadi Beach Hotel.

Stan Xoese Dogbe, Deputy Chief of Staff in charge of Operations and leader of the Anti-Flood Taskforce, broke his silence on Friday, October 2, 2026, after videos of military personnel pulling down structures at La Pleasure Beach circulated widely on social media.

“Let’s not get it twisted. Friday’s action along a section of the beachfront was not a Flood Mitigation Action by the government task force,” Dogbe wrote on Facebook.

A 4 a.m. Operation

Personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces’ 48 Engineer Regiment, supported by the Ghana Police Service, arrived at the site around 4 a.m. on Friday, October 2, 2026, ordering workers and residents to vacate within minutes.

“We were given two weeks’ notice to start packing, but we thought it was a joke,” one worker told the Ghanaian Times, describing the scene as structures came down roughly 15 minutes after the evacuation order.

Among the hardest-hit businesses were the Polo Beach Club and Pera Beach, popular entertainment venues near the Labadi Beach Hotel. The Polo Beach Club, valued at over GH¢41 million in 2023, was described as “the single most expensive and most luxurious beach club on the La beachfront”.

Dogbe’s Clarification

Dogbe said the operation was conducted under National Security supervision following a formal request from Labadi Beach Hotel, which had raised concerns that the structures were “adversely affecting the safety, tranquillity and reputation of the Hotel”.

“These are structures, some permanently built (Polo Beach Club and others) on the beach in front of the hotel,” he said, adding that the hotel complained the businesses were “diminishing the visitor experience and undermining the orderly management of one of Ghana’s most important tourism destinations”.

He drew a sharp distinction between the beachfront demolition and the government’s actual flood mitigation work, which he said was ongoing at Kpeshie Lagoon, East Legon Boundary Road, Oyarifa, and behind Mayfair Estates.

MP Confronts Military

La Dadekotopon Member of Parliament Rita Naa Odoley Sowah arrived at the scene and confronted military personnel, demanding to know why the demolition was proceeding despite what she said were assurances that the area would be spared.

“It is the Labadi Beach Hotel, with their board chairman, who is leading this exercise. Government has no knowledge of it,” she said.

The MP also alleged that some military personnel were firing shots and wielding guns while directing people to leave. “What is it, do you want to kill us? What has La done?” she asked.

Legal Dispute at the Heart

The demolition is the latest chapter in a bitter legal battle between the Labadi Beach Hotel and Spartan-Ives Limited, operators of the Polo Beach Club, over ownership of the contested beachfront land.

According to court documents filed in September 2026, Spartan-Ives acquired a 20-year lease of the disputed land from the La Stool in June 2022 for GH¢1.5 million. The company alleges the hotel has been “waging war” against it, denying access and now using connections to National Security to circumvent judicial proceedings.

The lawsuit specifically names Richard Jakpa, Director of Special Operations at the National Security Council Secretariat, accusing him of “hiding behind the Secretariat” to carry out the hotel’s “extra judicial and unlawful bidding”.

Polo Beach Club’s management had previously resisted a vacate directive, arguing the ownership dispute was before the courts and should be resolved through judicial process before any demolition.

Workers Left in Distress

The demolition has devastated livelihoods. Workers and residents were seen attempting to recover belongings from rubble, with some reportedly in tears as their sources of income crumbled.

“Since you guys want us to steal, we will steal,” one disgruntled worker told reporters. “When the foreigners come, we will ‘kwashey’ them physically”.

Dogbe, however, framed the demolition as necessary for sanitation and security reasons, questioning whether the hotel was justified in reclaiming its beachfront.

“We must all be concerned about the serious sanitation issues that these unauthorised and unregulated commercial operations cause, in addition to the security risks,” he said.

Motorists face graduated penalties under new Road Traffic Regulations; repeat offenders risk licence suspension after sixth violation within 24 months

Motorists across Ghana will face full enforcement under the TRAFFITECH-GH automated traffic system beginning October 1, 2026, with fines ranging from GH₵60 to GH₵2,400 depending on the offence and repeat violations, according to the Ghana Police Service.

The system, developed by the Ghana Police Service (GPS) to enforce road traffic laws and improve road safety, uses cameras and sensors to automatically capture images and video of vehicles that flout regulations, including speeding and running red lights.

Penalty Structure: One Unit Equals GH₵12

Under the new Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), fines are calculated in penalty units, with one penalty unit valued at GH₵12. The regulations prescribe fines and, in some cases, imprisonment for a range of offences including illegal racing, jumping red lights, improper parking, disobeying traffic officers, and using television monitors while driving.

For camera-detected violations, the penalty escalates with repeated offences within a 24-month period: the first, second, and third offences each attract GH₵120; the fourth offence rises to GH₵180; and the fifth offence reaches GH₵240. A sixth offence within 24 months may lead to court action and licence suspension or revocation for at least 12 months, along with mandatory retraining and retesting.

Major Offences and Corresponding Penalties

The Ghana Police Service has published a breakdown of key offences and their penalties:

Source: GhanaWeb and Starr FM

Commercial transport operators face steeper penalties. Okada or aboboyaa operators without authorisation could face fines ranging from GH₵600 to GH₵1,200 and up to 24 months in prison, while riders could face fines of GH₵300 to GH₵600 and up to eight months in prison.

How TRAFFITECH-GH Works

The system deploys fixed, mobile, and laser speed-measurement devices to capture offences including speeding and running red lights. Pictures and videos are automatically transmitted to a back office for validation, after which an Electronic Notice of Violation (ENV) is issued by SMS to the registered vehicle owner.

“The ENV will have a Ticket Number and will indicate the location, date, and time of the traffic offence, as well as the vehicle registration number, offence description, payment amount, and payment deadline,” the Police Service states.

For camera-detected offences, notices go to the registered owner of the vehicle, regardless of who was driving at the time. The Police has warned vehicle owners to be mindful of who uses their vehicles.

Payment and Contesting

Recipients of an ENV have 14 days to either pay the fine or contest it online. Payments can be made through www.ghana.gov.gh using mobile money (MTN, Telecel, AirtelTigo) or a debit or credit card, or by dialling *222# and selecting option 6.

Those who default on payment will incur an additional 1% penalty on the original fine for each day of default after the 14-day period.

Rollout Delayed to November 1

While the original announcement set October 1 as the start date, the Ghana Police Service subsequently rescheduled the full implementation of TRAFFITECH-GH to November 1, 2026. The delay followed preparations including nationwide training of Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) personnel.

Background and Legal Framework

TRAFFITECH-GH is being introduced as part of efforts to strengthen road traffic enforcement through technology and reduce violations on Ghana’s roads. The automated system is designed to identify traffic offences and support enforcement without relying solely on physical intervention by traffic officers.

The legal basis for the enforcement is the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), which prescribes fines and imprisonment for a wide range of offences. Additional offences enforced under TRAFFITECH-GH include expired roadworthiness certificates, wrongful overtaking, non-use of seatbelts, use of an expired licence, driving an uninsured vehicle, and misuse of sirens.

The regulations also introduce provisions on automated enforcement, allowing offences detected by traffic enforcement devices to attract graduated fines and, after repeated violations, possible suspension or revocation of a driver’s licence.

Communications Minister calls for national team to be disbanded as Ghana sits bottom of AFCON qualifying group with zero points

Ghana’s national football team is facing an unprecedented crisis after a shocking 4-2 home defeat to The Gambia intensified public anger and prompted a government minister to call for the team to be disbanded entirely.

The Black Stars suffered a stunning collapse at the Accra Sports Stadium on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2026, blowing a 2-0 first-half lead to lose 4-2 in their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. The defeat leaves Ghana bottom of Group C with zero points from their opening two matches.

The Match: From Dominance to Disaster

Ghana appeared in control after racing to a 2-0 lead through an Ernest Nuamah penalty and a Felix Afena-Gyan free-kick. However, The Gambia levelled before half-time, and Ebrima Colley struck twice after the break to seal a famous 4-2 victory—The Gambia’s first win over Ghana in 33 years.

The result came just days after Ghana opened their Group C campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Côte d’Ivoire in Bouaké under coach Carlos Queiroz.

Political Firestorm: Calls for Disbandment

The defeat has triggered a wave of public and political backlash. Fans fiercely booed the players off the pitch at the Accra Sports Stadium following the final whistle.

Communications Minister Sam George publicly urged for the Black Stars to be completely disbanded and the Ghana Football Association (GFA) leadership sacked, even suggesting Ghana should accept a FIFA ban if it provides necessary time to rebuild from scratch.

“As for the Black Stars, my position before is my position today. Disband the team. Sack the FA,” George wrote on X.

He argued that Ghana should accept a two-year FIFA ban to allow for a proper rebuild, insisting that the current “patchwork approach” was worse than the painful truth. FIFA rules prohibit government interference in the running of national football associations, and breaches can lead to suspension.

Defensive and Leadership Failures

Analysts have pointed to tactical lapses, individual errors, and a lack of composure across the backline. Stand-in captain Gideon Mensah conceded a crucial penalty, compounding the team’s defensive woes. Questions are mounting over the current selection and readiness of the squad.

Ghana have not won an AFCON qualifier since beating the Central African Republic in September 2023—a drought that has left confidence in the current setup at an all-time low.

With zero points from two matches, Ghana faces an uphill battle to qualify for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. The calls for radical restructuring—including disbanding the national team and sacking the football association—reflect a deepening crisis that extends beyond the pitch.

The coming weeks will be critical as the GFA, government, and football stakeholders grapple with the fallout from one of Ghana’s most humiliating defeats in recent memory.