Residents of Paga in the Kassena-Nankana West District of the Upper East Region were gripped by fear and confusion following the repeated, unannounced landings of a suspicious aircraft at the local airstrip.
A Series of Mysterious Landings The aircraft, bearing tail number 60171, was reportedly spotted landing at the Paga airstrip on multiple consecutive occasions. According to community members and local watch groups, the plane repeatedly touched down and took off abruptly whenever local residents or officials attempted to approach it. The clandestine nature of the flights raised immediate alarm in the border community, given its close proximity to Burkina Faso and the broader Sahel region.
Security Intervention and Stand-Down Order The situation came to a head when local security agencies—including the Ghana Police Service, the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB), and National Security operatives—intervened to prevent the aircraft from departing. However, reports indicated that the occupants refused to disembark or cooperate with officers. Tensions intensified further when an instruction from the Upper East Regional Police High Command reportedly ordered the release of the aircraft, classifying it as a “national security aircraft”.
Demands for Transparency Local leadership and community groups have expressed deep concern over the lack of communication. Reports noted that neither the District Chief Executive (who chairs the District Security Committee) nor the Upper East Regional Minister had prior knowledge of the operations. Furthermore, checks with the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) suggested the body was initially unaware of the flight.
The Paga Youth Movement has since issued a public call for a formal explanation from national security institutions, the Ghana Armed Forces, and the Ministry of the Interior regarding the aircraft’s mission, cargo, and clearance status to restore calm and protect community security
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