Islamic prayers at the Sunyani Central Mosque were unexpectedly interrupted on Friday, October 18, 2024, when a swarm of bees invaded, causing panic and chaos among worshippers.

Hundreds of congregants, gathered for the traditional Friday prayers, were forced to flee the mosque, shielding their faces as they sought to escape the bees’ attack, which began around 1:20 p.m.

Fortunately, a prompt response from the Bono Regional Command of the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) and the Ghana Ambulance Service helped manage the situation.

While GNFS personnel successfully rescued some worshippers, the bees targeted many, particularly the elderly and women who were unable to quickly escape the chaos.

The attack extended beyond the mosque, affecting nearby shopkeepers and traders along the Sunyani-Zongo one-way street.

Assistant Divisional Officer Grade One (ADO1) Kwame Adomako Antwi, Public Relations Officer of the Bono Regional GNFS, confirmed the incident to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), noting that even some fire personnel were not spared from the bee stings.

He added that all victims received medical treatment.

ADO1 Antwi explained that the fire service initially responded to a distress call about a suspected fire at the mosque, but upon arrival, they discovered the true cause of the disturbance was the swarm of bees.

Muslims in the Sunyani Zongo community expressed their shock at the unprecedented incident, stating that such an event had never occurred at the mosque before.