Sika Official Assault
Popular Ghanaian blogger Kwaku Dennis Sika, widely known as Sika Official, is at the centre of a heated national conversation after he was allegedly struck by a soldier while covering the demolition exercise at La Pleasure Beach in Accra on Friday, October 2, 2026. The incident, captured on video and shared widely online, has drawn condemnation from the New Media Association of Ghana (NMAG) and a sharp reaction from actress Lydia Forson.
What Happened at La Pleasure Beach
Military personnel and police moved onto the beachfront near the Labadi Beach Hotel on Friday to pull down structures along the shoreline. Reports say personnel from the Ghana Armed Forces’ 48 Engineer Regiment were part of the operation.
Among the places affected was Polo Beach Club, a well-known entertainment spot close to the Labadi Beach Hotel. The beach area has long been a weekend favourite for music, food and nightlife in Accra.
Sika Official was at the scene documenting the exercise. According to his account, soldiers forcibly pushed journalists and bloggers away from the site, and one soldier hit him with a rod.
Activist Ralph St Williams also affected
The blogger was not the only person who said he was attacked. Activist Ralph St Williams also reported being assaulted by military personnel at the same location.
He explained that he rushed to the beach after seeing footage of the demolition while he was at the airport. He described the way he was treated as unprofessional.
Traders and workers caught up in the tension
Sika Official further alleged that traders and workers on the beach were also roughed up during the exercise. Scenes from the site showed a tense atmosphere as structures came down under heavy security.
The Member of Parliament for La Dadekotopon, Rita Naa Odoley Sowah, also went to the site and confronted the soldiers. She said she had been assured that the area would not be demolished.
Quick Facts
- Who: Blogger Kwaku Dennis Sika (Sika Official) and activist Ralph St Williams
- What: Alleged assault by military personnel during a beach demolition exercise
- When: Friday, October 2, 2026
- Where: La Pleasure Beach (Labadi beachfront), Accra
- Reactions: NMAG, Lydia Forson and many social media users
- Military response: No official statement from the Ghana Armed Forces at the time of the early reports
NMAG Condemns the Attack
The New Media Association of Ghana, of which Sika Official is a member, issued a statement signed by its president, Eugene Osafo-Nkansah, condemning the incident.
The association said it viewed the reported use of force against a media practitioner doing legitimate work as “unacceptable.” It acknowledged that security personnel have a job to do during such operations, but stressed that any restrictions on the media must be explained and enforced in a professional way.
In a key line of the statement, NMAG said bloggers, online journalists and content creators “should not be subjected to physical assault simply because they are documenting an event of public interest.”
What NMAG is asking for
- Sika Official should seek medical attention.
- The Ghana Armed Forces should look into the incident and take action if standards were breached.
- Clearer media access arrangements should be put in place for future operations.
The association also said it was ready to work with stakeholders to improve how security agencies and media practitioners relate during public operations.
Lydia Forson: “Where’s the Licence to Beat People?”
Award-winning actress Lydia Forson, who is known for speaking her mind on national issues, took to X to react to the incident. She pushed back against people who seemed to excuse the soldier’s conduct simply because he was military.
“They’re military oo. So? Where’s the licence to beat people? You lot romanticize brutality too much and always conflate it with ‘discipline.’ It isn’t!” she wrote.
The actress argued that being a soldier does not give anyone the right to attack civilians. She also warned that those brushing the incident aside could one day find themselves on the receiving end of similar treatment.
Social Media Is Divided
As the video spread on X and Facebook, reactions poured in. Many users condemned the soldier and called for accountability, saying a journalist or blogger with a phone should never be beaten for recording a public event.
Others took a different view. They argued that media people should obey instructions from soldiers at sensitive operation sites to avoid trouble.
The debate has once again put the spotlight on how security forces treat the press, especially the growing army of bloggers and content creators who now break most entertainment and social news in Ghana.
Why the Beach Was Cleared
The Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), which owns the Labadi Beach Hotel and La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, said it had asked the National Security Council Secretariat to step in. SSNIT cited safety and security risks to hotel guests and staff, fire and sanitation hazards, damage to the coastal environment and harm to the hotels’ reputation and business.
SSNIT said the hotels are assets that belong to Ghana’s workers and pensioners, and that it has a duty to protect them. It also said the beaches will be cleaned up and will remain open to the public.
Deputy Chief of Staff Stan Dogbe also clarified that the exercise was separate from the government’s flood mitigation programme.
The demolition adds to recent losses in Accra’s nightlife and beach scene. Earlier, influencer Itz Tiffany saw her business affected in the Laboma demolition, after which she appealed for compensation.
What Happens Next
All eyes are now on the Ghana Armed Forces to see whether it will respond to NMAG’s call and investigate the soldier’s conduct. Until then, the video of Sika Official’s ordeal continues to fuel debate online about press freedom, the conduct of soldiers on civilian operations, and the future of one of Accra’s most popular entertainment beaches.
Halmblog will keep following the story and bring you updates as they come.
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