Omanghana
The Accra Turf Club has appealed to President John Dramani Mahama and senior government and security officials to intervene following what it describes as the forceful takeover and demolition of its racecourse at Borteyman.
According to the club, about 200 armed men entered the property on Saturday, August 22, 2026, accompanied by police officers and heavy-duty machinery.
The club alleges that the group used nine bulldozers and an excavator to destroy stables, offices, residential facilities and other infrastructure at the racecourse.
It has called for an investigation into the operation, the restoration of its possession of the property and action to prevent the land from being transferred or occupied by other parties.
About 100 Horse Stables Reportedly Demolished
In a statement, the Accra Turf Club said approximately 100 horse stables were flattened during the operation.
Administrative buildings, utility installations, track railings, perimeter fencing, water-storage facilities and vegetation were also reportedly destroyed.
The club alleged that roofing sheets, water-tank stands, railings and other dismantled materials were removed from the premises.
It further claimed that some valuables and equipment belonging to the organization were taken away or sold.
The total value of the reported damage has not been independently established, although the club described its losses as running into millions of dollars.
Horses and Jockeys Removed
The statement said horses were forcibly driven from their stables as the demolition proceeded.
Jockeys and other workers living at the site were allegedly ejected from their residential quarters, while the facility’s entrances were barricaded.
The club has expressed concern about the safety and welfare of the displaced animals and personnel.
It said the destruction had brought activities at the historic racecourse to a halt and placed the future of organized public horse racing in Ghana at risk.
Club Alleges Police Presence During Operation
The Accra Turf Club alleged that the group was led by two individuals it identified as Clement Dzato and another person known as Azuma.
It further claimed that a police team accompanying the operation was led by an officer identified as DSP Malaika.
According to the club, its officials contacted the Lakeside Police Station and other patrol teams after receiving information about the demolition.
Officers who arrived at the scene reportedly confronted the alleged leaders and the police personnel accompanying them.
The club claimed that Dzato told the responding officers that the property had been allocated to him and his associates, while DSP Malaika allegedly said documents had been presented to support their claim to the land.
However, the Accra Turf Club said no court order, statutory authorization or ownership documentation permitting the demolition was produced at the site.
It alleged that attempts by officers from the Lakeside Police Station and other patrol teams to stop the exercise were unsuccessful and that the demolition continued after they left.
These claims are the Accra Turf Club’s account of the incident. The individuals named and the Ghana Police Service had not issued detailed public responses to the allegations at the time of the reports.
Horse Racing History Dates Back More Than a Century
The Accra Turf Club said organized horse racing in the capital can be traced to about 1876.
The organization was formally established in 1923 and has operated as one of Ghana’s longest-standing sporting institutions.
Its former racecourse was located on prime land in central Accra now occupied by developments including the Accra International Conference Centre, the National Security Secretariat and the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City.
The facility was relocated after the government decided to redevelop the original racecourse site.
According to the club, its move to Borteyman was formalized through a relocation agreement signed with the Government of Ghana on May 24, 2006.
Club Relies on 2005 High Court Order
The Turf Club also cited an order issued on March 8, 2005, in High Court Suit No. AE/32/2004.
It said the case involved land forming part of a larger area acquired by the state under Certificate of Title No. 214/40, with the Lands Commission named as the first defendant.
According to the club, the court granted the Lands Commission permission to enter the property and demarcate 46.64 hectares for its use.
The organization said the order was intended to enable the Lands Commission to complete the necessary documentation and recognized the club’s right to occupy the Borteyman property and operate its racecourse there.
It maintains that the entire 46.64-hectare parcel remains earmarked for the Accra Turf Club under the relocation agreement and court order.
The club’s interpretation of those documents and any competing ownership claims may ultimately require determination by the appropriate state institutions or courts. Graphic Online
Appeal to President and Security Authorities
The Accra Turf Club has asked President Mahama to order urgent and lawful intervention in the dispute.
Its appeal was also directed to Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, Lands and Natural Resources Minister Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Attorney-General Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine and Inspector-General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno.
The club also called on National Security Coordinator DCOP Abdul-Osman Razak to intervene.
It wants the authorities to remove those it describes as encroachers and restore its access to the property.
The club also requested that the Lands Commission prevent any unlawful transfer, reallocation or registration affecting the 46.64-hectare site.
It is demanding a full investigation into the private individuals and security personnel allegedly involved in the demolition. Where wrongdoing is established, the club wants those responsible prosecuted.
Club Says Thousands of Livelihoods Are at Risk
The Accra Turf Club said the racecourse supports a wider equestrian industry involving jockeys, trainers, horse owners, stable groomers and other workers.
It estimates that more than 30,000 people depend directly or indirectly on activities associated with horse racing. That figure represents the club’s estimate and has not been independently verified.
“The Accra Race Course is not merely a piece of land,” the club said, describing it as the center of a longstanding Ghanaian sporting tradition.
It warned that the loss of the Borteyman facility could destroy livelihoods, displace animals and bring organized public horse racing in the country to an end.
The club said it would pursue all lawful options available to protect its claimed rights, recover the property and preserve Ghana’s horse-racing heritage.
It expressed confidence that the government would investigate the competing claims and ensure that any action concerning the land complies with court orders, statutory procedures and the rule of law.
Source: Omanghana
