The Criminal Investigation Department of the Ghana Police Service has arrested Dr Clemence Gyato on Thursday, September 10, 2026, after the controversial demolition and reported takeover of the Accra Race Course at Borteyman.
Gyato is being held in police custody and is assisting investigators, though no criminal liability has yet been established against him. The arrest comes as authorities intensify inquiries into who authorised the operation and how it was carried out.
The August 22 incident saw about 200 armed men arrive at the venue with an excavator and nine bulldozers, demolishing more than 100 horse stables and destroying track railings and other infrastructure at the historic site.
Accra Turf Club officials and other stakeholders have condemned the demolition, demanding an investigation into the authority behind the takeover of the property. Public pressure has mounted, with members of the horse‑racing community staging demonstrations in Accra and petitioning the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the Ministry of Sports and the Presidency for urgent government action.
The police also interdicted DSP Alhassan Malaika Jibril, who was accused of providing security and leading personnel involved in the demolition. Gyato’s arrest is expected to help the CID identify those responsible, establish the authority under which the demolition was conducted, and determine the circumstances surrounding the reported takeover of the land.
