The Accra Turf Club has condemned what it said was the forceful entry, trespass, demolition and takeover of its race course and facilities.
It said the club considered the events of August 22, 2026 to be extremely serious and calls upon the President of John Dramani Mahama; the Minister of the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak; the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah; the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine; the Inspector-General of Police, Christian Tetteh Yohuno; the National Security Coordinator, COP Abdul-Osman Razak to urgently intervene in this matter.
Specifically, the club called on the relevant authorities to eject the land grabbers and encroachers from the Accra Turf Club's property, restore the club's possession and access to our property so that horse racing in Ghana could continue and halt any further attempt by Lands Commission to unlawfully transfer, alienate, or otherwise interfere with the land earmarked for the Accra Turf Club.
The club in a statement issued by the secretary called on the authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the events of August 22, 2026 and bring any persons found responsible for the unlawful and criminal destruction, trespass and takeover of the club's property to justice.
The Accra Turf Club, further called for urgent, lawful and decisive intervention to protect the club's property, restore its possession, safeguard its horses and personnel, and preserve Ghana's horse racing heritage.
It said the club remained the rightful custodian of the Accra Race Course and would not relent in taking all lawful steps necessary to protect its property, rights and heritage.
“The unlawful activities that took place on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Accra Race Course are deeply concerning and are inconsistent with the Government's commitment to upholding the rule of law, protecting public and state lands, and reversing the unlawful acquisition and takeover of state lands, as directed by the president.
“We are confident that His Excellency the President will act swiftly and decisively to right this wrong, protect the integrity of the Government's directives, and ensure that the rule of law is upheld in this matter.
Giving a background to the incident, the statement said on Saturday, August 22, 2026, a group of about 200 armed men, led by persons identifying themselves as Clement Dzato and another person referred to as Azuma, allegedly entered the premises of the Accra Race Course located at Borteyman, near the Borteyman Stadium.
The group, it said was accompanied by a number of police officers under the command of DSP Malaika, who upon questioning, indicated that he was stationed at the Police Headquarters.
“The armed group entered the premises with nine bulldozers and one excavator and proceeded to undertake total demolition and destruction of the Accra Race Course facilities,” it said.
It said exercise involved the demolition of approximately 100 horse stables, destruction of buildings and horse racing facilities across the premises, destruction of vegetation across the land, destruction of utility services serving the facility as well as the forced removal of horses from their stables and the forced ejection of jockeys from their residential facilities.
It said the destruction of the club's properties and office equipment, removal of all track railings, roofing sheets, water tank container stands and other valuables and that the items were immediately sold by the group on our premises.
“Following the demolition, the armed men took over the facilities and ejected members of the Accra Turf club from the premises,” it said.
POLICE INTERVENTION
It said upon receiving information about the destruction, officials of the Accra Turf Club immediately informed the Lakeside Police Station and other police patrol teams operating within the vicinity and requested their intervention to stop the demolition.
Despite the intervention by the Lakeside Police officers and the patrol teams, it said the demolition was not stopped.
“Following the unsuccessful intervention, the officers left the scene, while the destruction continued.
“Officials of the Accra Turf Club made several further attempts to secure intervention from the relevant authorities to halt the activities. However, the destruction continued unabated,” it said.
HISTORICAL
The statement said horse racing in Accra dates back to the late 19th century, with historical accounts tracing organised horse racing to around 1876.
The Accra Turf Club, it said was formally established in 1923, and horse racing subsequently became an important sporting and social activity in Ghana.
“The Accra Turf Club's present Race Course at Borteyman was established as part of the relocation of its former Race Course, which was situated on land now occupied by the National Security Secretariat, Accra International Conference Centre and Kempinski Hotel Gold Coast City.
“Following the government's decision to redevelop the former Race Course site, the club entered into a Relocation Agreement dated May 24, 2006 with the Government of Ghana to facilitate its relocation to Borteyman,” it said and that the Borteyman site formed part of land compulsorily acquired by the Government of Ghana under Certificate of Title No. 214/40.
“The Borteyman site forms part of land compulsorily acquired by the Government of Ghana under Certificate of Title No. 214/40. The land was the subject matter of Suit No. AE/32/2004, in which the Lands Commission was the 1st Defendant. By an Order dated March 8, 2005, signed by Justice P. Baffoe Bonnie, Justice of the High Court, now Chief Justice of the Republic of Ghana. The court expressly granted the Lands Commission leave to enter upon the land and demarcate 46.64 hectares for the Accra Turf Club.
“The Court Order was intended to enable the Lands Commission to complete the necessary land documentation in favour of the Accra Turf Club and recognised the Club's right to occupy the land and operate its Race Course therefrom. The 46.64 hectares therefore constitutes the land earmarked for the Accra Turf Club under the relocation arrangement and pursuant to the Court Order,” it said.
PROTECTION OF HORSE RACING HERITAGE
The Accra Turf Club, it said remained committed to protecting horse racing in Ghana and preserving a sporting institution whose history in Ghana spans more than a century and that Race Course was not merely a piece of land or a private facility.
It said it represented the continuation of a long-standing Ghanaian sporting tradition whiles providing livelihood for more than 30,000 members in the equestrian fraternity, including jockeys, trainers, horse owners, groomers and others whose activities depends largely on horse racing.
It questioned “How can a Deputy Superintendent of Police act on his own to cause such damage to property and livelihood? These acts tarnish the image of a concerned government”.
