Togolese helicopters cause a stirl in Hohoe

Hohoe (Volta Region), 30th June 99 -- Two Togolese air force helicopters on Monday landed at Wli-Afegame in the Hohoe district of the Volta region which shares a common border with Togo and has the biggest waterfall in West Africa.

One of them landed at the Local Roman Catholic primary school park, while the second one landed near the Wli Waterfalls. Mr Dennis Jordor, assembly member for the Wli electoral area, said when the aircraft landed at the school park at about 9 a.m., the teachers, pupils and a lot of people rushed to the spot, thinking it was President Jerry John Rawlings who was visiting the waterfalls.

He said they were surprised to see that it was a Togolese air force plane, and the occupants were two whites and three blacks, all except one black, wore military uniforms.

Mr Jordor said one of the whitemen, on seeing the crowd ordered the pilot to take off, heading towards the waterfalls. The second helicopter almost simultaneously took off from the side of the waterfalls, and both returned to Togo.

Mr Jordor said Togolese helicopters have been sighted along the Ghanaian side of the border on four occasions but they have never landed. He noted that tourism has become a major foreign exchange earner world wide, and called for the security of the waterfalls.

Meanwhile, the Hohoe District Chief Executive, Mr Obed Kissiedu and members of the Hohoe district security committee have visited the town after receiving a report from Mr Nat Aduajoe, Member of Parliament for Hohoe North who was touring the area.