Kwame Blay, the son of the former National Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Freddie Blay has stated that he and his brother hold a legitimate lease from the owners of the Labadi beachfront.
This statement comes in response to escalating tensions and accusations of unlawful acquisition of parts of the beachfront belonging to the state-owned Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
The dispute gained momentum following allegations by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu who claimed that the Blay family was involved in a scheme to take over the beachfront.
In an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Thursday, Mr Blay refuted these allegations, stating that their business dealings regarding the beachfront have been transparent and within legal bounds.
He emphasised that their lease is legitimate and obtained through proper channels, without any misuse of political influence or connections.
“…This is somebody’s land that we have a legitimate lease. We are amongst maybe five or six other companies on the beachfront. Anybody who has gone to Labadi Beach in the last 20, or 30 years has seen the people that are there. They either have umbrellas, a few beer bars, a few drinking spots, or a few other commercial ventures, all on the beach.
“Nobody has come to say that they are stealing La people’s land. Nobody has accused any of those ventures of going ahead and doing anything. Why us?
“We have had a legitimate lease from legitimate owners of the land. If anybody goes there today the portion that they are claiming is for Labadi Hotel is still there. The beach has umbrellas and a little rooftop section on the beach.
“Polo Beach Club wasn’t started today, I believe we are in our sixth or seventh year. It was originally started at the Polo Club near the Airport. It was then called the Garden Party. It was run there for two years…I am involved in other business. If you know Afrochella now called Afro Future I am a shareholder in Afrochella.
“I am the CEO of Daily Guide Newspaper…So to come and claim publicly that we are using our political clout or muscle is beyond bizarre,” he stated.
