News
Bluewhale Construction breaks ground for its flagship project- Labadi Beach Apartments
Accra’s coastline is about to welcome a new landmark; the Labadi Beach Apartments which is poised to transform one of the city’s most sought-after districts into a new destination for luxury living, investment, and modern urban convenience.
Bluewhale Construction and Industrial Ltd. marked a major milestone in that vision, as it officially broke grounds for the construction of the 18-storey mixed-use apartment project.
The groundbreaking ceremony was held at the project site at the intersection of Giffard Road and Labadi Road, just 350 metres from the shores of Labadi Beach and 290 metres from the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre.
The ceremony was attended by traditional leaders, representatives of the La Dade-Kotopon Municipal Assembly, a delegation from the Mankralo Traditional Council, government officials, members of the security services, business partners, investors, and other key stakeholders.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr Nathaniel Alpha Aidoo, Country Manager of Bluewhale Construction and Industrial Ltd., emphasized the broader significance of the project beyond its physical footprint.
“Labadi Beach Apartments represents more than a real estate development. It is a testament to the enduring partnership between Ghana and China and the opportunities that emerge when international expertise meets local ambition. We are creating a world-class investment destination while contributing to Ghana’s economic growth and urban transformation,” he said.
Labadi Beach Apartments is being delivered through a strategic partnership between Bluewhale Construction and Industrial Ltd., China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), and China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG).
More than contractors, CRCC and CRCEG are equity partners in the development, reflecting their confidence in the project’s long-term success.
With a proven track record of delivering major infrastructure and real estate projects across more than 130 countries, their involvement brings world-class engineering expertise, rigorous quality standards, and strong execution capabilities.
Drawing on over 25 years of international construction and real estate development experience, Bluewhale has designed the development to serve both the lifestyle and investment markets.
The tower will feature studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments across floors three through fifteen, with commercial and retail facilities occupying the ground to second floors. Highlights include a restaurant, café, pharmacy, convenience store, and dedicated business and concierge facilities.
At the crown of the building, residents will have access to a signature rooftop infinity pool with unobstructed views of the Atlantic Ocean, alongside a rooftop bar and restaurant, fully equipped gymnasium, outdoor lounge areas, and a viewing deck.
The development’s location places it at the heart of Accra’s most active corridors, within six minutes of Kotoka International Airport, five minutes of Cantonments, and seven minutes of Osu, making it equally attractive to corporate executives, expatriates, embassy staff, and international business travellers.
The project’s proximity to the redeveloped Ghana International Trade Fair Centre is expected to be a key driver of rental demand and long-term capital appreciation.
With the Labadi Beach Hotel commanding room rates averaging around USD 300 per night, comparable units within the development are projected to offer short-term rental returns in the USD 80–100 per night range, with Bluewhale projecting investor payback periods as short as four years, subject to occupancy and market conditions.
Residents will benefit from 24-hour concierge and security services, CCTV monitoring, access control systems, backup power and water systems, and optional butler and housekeeping services. Bluewhale will also offer comprehensive professional property management for investors, covering tenant sourcing, lease administration, rent collection, maintenance coordination, and financial reporting.
Providing insight into the project’s technical vision and long-term impact, Ms Liu Li, Head of Business Development at China Railway Construction Engineering Group (CRCEG) West Africa, highlighted the importance of skills transfer, sustainability, and local capacity building.
“Beyond delivering a landmark development, this project is creating jobs, transferring knowledge, and strengthening local construction capacity. By combining Chinese engineering expertise with the training and development of Ghanaian personnel, we are building a project that is not only sustainable in design and execution, but one that leaves a lasting legacy for the community and the industry,” she said.
Construction is now underway and is expected to be completed in 2.5 to 3 years.
The National Identification Authority (NIA) has announced the commencement of enforcement of the National Identity Register (Amendment) Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2523), warning institutions that fail to comply with the new requirements of possible fines of up to 2,000 penalty units.
The Authority says it will deploy a Biometric Verification Implementation Task Force to inspect institutions and ensure they comply with the regulations, following the expiration of a three-month grace period granted to businesses and public institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Monday, November 2, 2026, the NIA’s Corporate Affairs representative, William Ampomah Emmanuel Darlas, said the Authority had completed its public education and stakeholder engagement activities and was now moving into the enforcement and compliance monitoring phase.
He explained that the regulations require institutions that verify the identities of customers or applicants as part of their operations to use the NIA’s approved biometric verification platform instead of relying solely on visual inspection of the Ghana Card.
Under the new rules, institutions are prohibited from photocopying, scanning or keeping copies of the Ghana Card for identity verification purposes.
Mr Darlas stressed that simply collecting a customer’s Ghana Card, looking at the photograph and comparing it with the person presenting it would no longer be accepted as a valid method of identity verification.
He, however, clarified that the Ghana Card remains the country’s official national identity document and that citizens are not required to register for a new card or capture their biometrics again under the new regulations.
He said the new system is intended to reduce identity fraud, impersonation and other crimes by ensuring that the person presenting the Ghana Card is the actual owner.
According to him, the biometric verification process will rely on information already captured during Ghana Card registration, including fingerprints, iris details and facial features stored in the card’s chip.
Mr Darlas warned institutions against using third-party companies or individuals to access the NIA’s identity verification platform, insisting that the Authority does not work with intermediaries.
He said institutions seeking access to the National Identity Register must deal directly with the NIA and complete its official onboarding process.
The process requires institutions to prove that they are legally registered companies in Ghana, obtain certification from the Data Protection Commission and work with the NIA’s technical team to establish the necessary connection to its platform.
He further cautioned institutions already connected to the platform against subletting their access to other businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises.
He disclosed that the Authority had received reports of some institutions providing their verification services to other businesses without the NIA’s approval and warned that those involved would face legal action.
Mr Darlas said organisations that fail to comply with L.I. 2523 could face fines ranging from 500 to 2,000 penalty units, depending on the nature of the offence.
He explained that the NIA does not have the authority to impose the fines directly but would take offenders to court for the appropriate punishment.
He indicated that Institutions found guilty could also face additional administrative measures, including being barred from accessing the NIA’s verification platform in the future.
The NIA representative further clarified that the new regulations do not prohibit all institutions from physically using the Ghana Card during transactions.
The Managing Director of the Ghana Publishing Company Limited, Nana Kwesi Boatey, has revealed how he transformed a major overstaffing challenge into a success story through the government’s 24-Hour Economy initiative.
Speaking at the Government Accountability Series on Monday, November 2, Mr. Boatey disclosed that when he assumed office in February 2025, and inherited a bloated workforce of 250 employees doing work that could be efficiently handled by 150 people, a situation that created serious liquidity challenges for the state-owned company.
Instead of resorting to downsizing, he adopted an innovative approach by instituting a 24-hour operational system.
Under the new system, staff were redistributed across three shifts: 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. – 4:30 a.m.
This not only ensured optimal use of labour but also maximized machine utilization and improved overall output.
According to him, the single move redefined the productivity culture within the company, reinforcing discipline, accountability, and efficiency.
The Ghana Publishing Company’s turnaround is being cited as a practical example of how the 24-Hour Economy policy can drive growth without job losses.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
