Shangri-La: the most twisted hotel saga in Ghana. Bright Simons

If you are of a certain age and know Accra a bit, you must know Shangri-La. A cute, low-rise, hotel along the northern stretch of the Liberation road, and on the doorstep of what later became the Israeli-built Tetteh Quarshie Interchange and, a few years later, the Accra Mall. If you are middle-class enough, you may even remember the legendary “pizza by the pool”.

In its heyday, Shangri-La, nestled daintily in the city’s swanky airport district and touching the northernmost edge of its old colonial charm amidst the stables of the Polo Club, was indeed the classy choice of the aspirational set. But by 2011, it was being dissed by this same crowd and described as worthy of bulldozing. It will linger on for a few more years before its demolition.

Following its demolition more than a decade ago, the land has been lying fallow. Many Accra residents who ply that