The Secretary-General of the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL), Abraham Koomson, has defended the demolition exercise at the Labadi Beach Hotel area, arguing that the SSNIT-owned lands are state assets intended to support hotel infrastructure and protect workers’ investments.
Speaking on Ahotor FM’s Yepe Ahunu programme in Accra on Saturday, October 3, 2026, Mr Koomson said the property forms part of assets connected to workers’ contributions and should therefore be protected and utilised for their intended purpose.
According to him, the demolition was justified because the land is meant to support investments that ultimately benefit workers and contribute to the sustainability of their retirement security.
He, however, said the major weakness in the exercise was the government’s failure to properly communicate its reasons to the public before and during the operation.
Mr Koomson argued that the poor public relations surrounding the demolition had created what he described as undeserved public sympathy for people occupying or developing portions of the SSNIT property without authorisation.
He said government should have clearly explained to the public that the land is connected to workers’ investments and that protecting it is necessary to preserve the value of those assets.
“Workers can also rise up and say, this belongs to us. I join in the special workers’ contribution. When they run a scheme, it is our assets. Government is indirectly managing it for us. It is for workers,” he stated.
Mr Koomson further criticised the allocation and sale of portions of state-owned properties under previous administrations, particularly the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government.
He argued that some of the current challenges surrounding state properties stem from decisions by the previous administration to dispose of portions of public assets.
According to him, the sale or allocation of portions of state properties to private interests for commercial development could undermine the long-term value of assets intended to support workers’ retirement investments.
He questioned why portions of state-owned hotel properties would be transferred to private developers when such assets could instead be preserved, properly managed and developed to generate sustainable returns for workers.
Mr Koomson said the state has a responsibility to protect SSNIT-related properties from encroachment and ensure that they continue to serve the purpose for which workers’ contributions were invested.
He maintained that although he considered the Labadi Beach demolition justified, government needed to improve its communication strategy when undertaking such enforcement exercises.
He said authorities should properly explain the ownership, purpose and economic value of state and workers’ assets before embarking on enforcement operations.
Mr Koomson said effective communication would help the public understand the rationale behind such exercises and reduce misinformation, public confusion and unnecessary controversy surrounding the protection of state and workers’ assets.
Story by Stephen Kwaku Owusu Mintah