Aflao, June 24, GNA - A drum-like metal object, the size of about four 50-gallon drums and about seven feet high was washed ashore at Abelikope, near Aflao on Monday.

The object is yellow in colour with two metal hooks and a flat plate resembling a satellite disc at its side.

It has been tied to a boat to prevent it from being washed back into the sea. It is sealed and its contents are unknown. Many people, including security personnel, fear the object could be an explosive device or might contain a poisonous chemical.

Mr. Justice Cudjoe, Ketu South District Chief Executive, Mr. Ahmed Issah Yakubu, Assistant Superintendent of Police in charge of Aflao District and personnel of the Bureau of National Investigations were around to take a look at it.

Mr. Yakubu advised the fisher folk in the area to stay away from it and that marine and chemical experts would be invited to examine it. The GNA was told that a group of young men spotted the object afloat about two nautical miles in the sea while playing at the beach and with a boat directed it to the shore.