Togolese aircraft stray into Ghana

Togolese aircraft cause panic?In Volta Region

Both the Daily Graphic and the Ghanaian Times give front-page treatment to a story in which a Togolese aircraft strayed into Ghana?s airspace.

The Graphic reports that two aircraft believed to belong to the Togolese Airforce flew into Ghana?s territory on Monday and landed at Wli-Afegame in the Hohoe District of the Volta Region.

The Times, in its account, however, said a Togolese Military helicopter, with three armed uniformed soldiers and two whitemen on board, crossed into Ghanaian territory and landed at Wli in the Hohoe District on Monday.

The Times says investigations established that the aircraft 5V ?MCJ. Flying a Togolese flag, touched down at an open field in the town soon after 8.30 a.m., but took off again before 9 a.m.

The Graphic, on the other hand says one of the aircraft landed at the local Roman Catholic School Park and the other near the Wli Waterfall. The paper quoting Mr Nat Aduadjoe, MP for Hohoe North said he was informed about the incident by some r residents of Wli-Afegame during a tour of the constituency on Monday.

According to Mr Aduadjoe, the aircraft attracted a large number of school children and residents of the town, who thought it was President Jerry Rawlings who had paid a visit to the Wli Waterfall.

The Times said while the crew were on the ground, the Odikro of the town and some of his elders walked to them to enquire about their mission, but one of the Togolese soldiers ordered them in French to "go away".

When the residents started advancing towards the ?intruders? and their aircraft, one of the whitemen ordered the rest of the crew to get back on board for take off. The Times says while they were taking off, another helicopter was hovering over the Wli Waterfalls, apparently to give them cover.