The La Coalition, a group advocating for land rights in the La Traditional Area, organized a protest in Accra on Tuesday, July 30.
However, the protest escalated into chaos as demonstrators clashed with police over the planned route of their march.
The protest, initiated to decry what demonstrators perceive as the unethical seizure of lands by political entities in the Greater Accra Region, drew participants from various unions and associations within the La Traditional Area, a region with a rich history of land ownership and rights.
Their primary grievances centred around the alleged appropriation of state lands, including areas occupied by Labadi Beach and La Palm Royal Beach Hotels, without adequate compensation to the original owners.
Tensions flared when disagreements emerged between the demonstrators and police regarding the designated route. Authorities expressed concerns about the safety of proceeding to Kpletso, near Burma Camp, prompting a standoff with protest organizers.
In a statement to Channel One News, the lead convenor of the protest disputed police claims that they intended to march to Kpletso, accusing law enforcement of being apprehensive and unwilling to confront potential military presence in the area.
“We are not going to the Kpletso land; the police are behaving like cowards. They don’t want to encounter the military,” the convenor asserted, clarifying that their intended destination was Christ the King. There, they were determined to engage with a government representative and present their grievances, underlining the urgency and importance of their cause.
Furthermore, the convenor disclosed that organizers had taken responsibility for ensuring security throughout the demonstration, a commitment that should reassure the public about the protest’s safety, as police had declined to provide assistance from the outset.
“We are law-abiding citizens, willing to be held accountable if anything goes wrong. The commander knows me, and I’m not someone who runs away. Come for me if you think we’ve done something untoward. But don’t try to suppress us,” emphasized the lead convenor, stressing their sense of responsibility and accountability.
The confrontation underscores mounting tensions over land rights in Accra, highlighting unresolved grievances that resonate within local communities and among political stakeholders.
