Former Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay, has accused President John Dramani Mahama of ordering the demolition of his son’s business, the Polo Beach Club, at the La Beach enclave.

The land space housing the entertainment and hospitality venue at the La beachfront in Accra has been in contention since 2024 over its ownership. In contrast, Spartan-Ives Limited, the operator of Polo Beach Club, claims it legally acquired the land through a 20-year lease from the La stool with additional arrangements involving the La Beach Resort Management Committee.

Unfortunately, SSNIT demolished both properties for several reasons, including alleged unlawful occupation of beachfront land, encroachment on the beachfront, unauthorised activities affecting the area, and the protection of SSNIT's investments in the two hotels.

Commenting on the issue during an interview with Channel One TV’s The Big Issue with Umaru Sanda Amadu in Kumasi during the NPP’s National Delegates Congress and National Officers’ Elections, father of the owner of Polo Beach Club, lawyer and former New Patriotic Party (NPP) National Chairman Freddie Blay accused President Mahama of directly having a hand in the demolition of his son’s property.

He mentioned that “I feel sorry. It is one of the complaints that I think people should hear against the NDC government and against President John Mahama, that he himself ordered it. I know,” calling President Mahama one with no respect for the law.

The dispute over the land has been in court since 2024, with a ruling yet to be determined.

“The court is yet to determine it. Then you complain to the President, and the President orders that they should go and break it. He [Mahama] has no respect for law,” he said.

He rejected claims that the business was operating as a squatter on land belonging to the hotel, insisting that the land had been acquired through a lease from the La Stool.

“My son has acquired land from the La Stool and did business on the land that belongs to the La Stool originally. They’ve leased it out. And we are working on it,” he said.

Mr Blay also questioned the involvement of the President and National Security in the matter while the ownership dispute remained before the court.

He challenged the basis for deploying security personnel to demolish the property, arguing that such action should only be taken on the basis of a court order.

“Is that law? Is that what is done in the country? Unless the court gives the order,” he said.

The demolition at La Pleasure Beach and the adjoining Polo Beach Club on Friday, October 2, 2026, was carried out by security personnel under National Security supervision following a request from the Labadi Beach Hotel.

The exercise was separate from the government’s ongoing flood-mitigation demolitions around the Kpeshie Lagoon. The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) said the clearance was intended to address alleged unlawful occupation and encroachment on the beachfront and protect its investments in the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel.

The demolition has drawn criticism from affected operators and the La Dadekotopon MP, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah.