Accra Turf Club calls for probe into demolition of Borteyman Race Course

The Accra Turf Club has called on the government and relevant state institutions to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged takeover and demolition of its race course at Borteyman.

Speaking at a press conference at the Accra Polo Club on Wednesday, the club's secretary, Samuel Newton, said the destruction had caused extensive damage to facilities and property worth millions of dollars, disrupting horse racing activities at one of Ghana's oldest sporting institutions.

Mr Newton alleged that about 200 armed men, accompanied by police officers, stormed the race course on Saturday, 22 August, and carried out a large-scale demolition exercise.

According to him, the group, which he claimed was led by individuals identified as Clement Dzato and Azuma, arrived with nine bulldozers and an excavator before demolishing structures across the facility.

He said approximately 100 horse stables, racing facilities, buildings, utility infrastructure, vegetation, water tank stands, roofing sheets and track railings were destroyed. He further alleged that horses were forcibly removed from their stables while jockeys were evicted from residential quarters on the premises.

The club's chairman, Frederick Nuer, claimed that offices and equipment were also destroyed during the exercise. He alleged that some materials and valuables removed from the site were immediately sold as scrap.

Mr Newton said the club reported the incident to the Lakeside Police Station and other police patrol teams, which responded to the scene.

He alleged that police officers encountered Mr Dzato, Mr Azuma and a police officer identified as Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Alhassan Malaika Jibril, who was reportedly accompanying the group.

According to Mr Newton, Mr Dzato claimed that ownership of the land had been granted to him and his associates, giving them the right to take possession of the property.

He further alleged that DSP Malaika informed responding officers that documentation had been presented to establish ownership of the land and that the police presence was intended to provide security during the takeover.

However, Mr Newton said no court order or ownership documents authorising the demolition were produced at the scene.

He also claimed that attempts by officers from the Lakeside Police Station and other patrol units to halt the demolition were unsuccessful and that the destruction continued after they left.

The Accra Turf Club traces its origins to 1923 and says horse racing has been an important sporting and social activity in Ghana for more than a century.

Mr Newton said the club relocated to Borteyman after vacating its former race course in central Accra, where developments such as the National Security Secretariat, the Accra International Conference Centre and the Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City now stand.

He explained that the move followed a relocation agreement signed with the Government of Ghana on 24 May 2006 after plans were made to redevelop the original site.

The club also cited a court order dated 8 March 2005 in a case involving the Lands Commission, which it says authorised the demarcation of 46.64 hectares of land for its use at Borteyman.

According to the club, the order recognised its right to occupy and operate the race course on the site and formed part of the legal basis for its continued presence there.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Police Service has interdicted DSP Alhassan Malaika Jibril over his alleged involvement in the demolition exercise.

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Police Professional Standards Bureau have launched investigations into the matter. Police say further action will be determined by the outcome of those investigations.