Ghana Police arrests Dr Clemence Gyato over Accra Race Course demolition
By Kwame Bediako The Ghana Police Service’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has arrested Dr Clemence Gyato as part of its investigation into the disputed demolition and alleged forceful takeover of the Accra Race Course at Borteyman. Gyato was picked up on Thursday, 10 September, and remains in custody assisting detectives working to identify who authorised […]
The Ghana Police Service has apprehended Dr Clemence Gyato as part of its inquiry into the contentious demolition and alleged forcible takeover of the Accra Race Course in Borteyman. Dr Gyato was taken into custody on Thursday, 10 September, and is currently in police custody to aid detectives in determining who authorized the operation and how it was carried out.
The arrest follows the detention of DSP Alhassan Malaika Jibril, a senior police officer accused of providing security during the demolition of the Accra Turf Club facility.
The police have not disclosed the specific reasons for Dr Gyato's arrest, but they confirm that the investigation is centered on the legality of the operation and the reported land seizure. According to the Accra Turf Club, on 22 August, approximately 200 armed men arrived with heavy machinery, consisting of an excavator and nine bulldozers, and razed over 100 horse stables. Additionally, 1,084 track railings and other infrastructure at the historic venue were destroyed.
The horse racing community has expressed significant concern over the matter. On Thursday, stakeholders organized a march through Accra, delivering petitions to the Presidency, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, and the Ministry of Sports, urging urgent action regarding the demolition and reported takeover. The police emphasized that Dr Gyato's arrest does not equate to a determination of criminal guilt.
Investigators are anticipated to scrutinize the command chain, any documentation authorizing the work, and the circumstances surrounding the reported racecourse occupation.
Written by urgent.news from GBC Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
