On
Friday,
October
18,
2024,
a
swarm
of
bees
infiltrated
the
Sunyani
Central
Mosque
and
caused
chaos,
halting
Islamic
services
early.
Hundreds
of
Islamic
congregants
gathering
for
prayers
left
the
mosque
with
their
faces
veiled
to
avoid
the
attack,
which
occurred
at
about
13:20
hours.
The
event
occurred
as
they
were
doing
their
normal
Friday
prayers.
However,
some
personnel
from
the
Ghana
National
Fire
Service’s
Bono
Regional
Command
and
the
Ghana
Ambulance
Service
responded
quickly
and
salvaged
the
situation.
According
to
reports,
while
GNFS
personnel
were
able
to
rescue
some
of
the
Muslims,
the
bees
did
not
spare
congregants,
particularly
the
elderly
and
several
ladies
who
were
stuck
as
a
result
of
the
chaos.
The
onslaught
also
affected
shop
owners
and
tiny
traders
near
the
central
mosque
along
the
Sunyani-Zongo
one-way,
as
bees
ran
uncontrolled
in
the
neighbourhood.
Assistant
Divisional
Officer
Grade
One
(ADO1)
Kwame
Adomako
Antwi,
the
Bono
Regional
Public
Relations
Officer
of
the
GNFS,
corroborated
the
story
to
the
GNA,
adding
that
the
bees
also
assaulted
some
of
the
firefighters.
He
stated
that
the
sufferers
have
since
received
medication.
ADO1
reported
that
the
service
received
a
distress
call
concerning
an
alleged
fire
outbreak
at
the
mosque,
but
when
staff
arrived,
they
discovered
that
bees
had
invaded
the
mosque.
During
a
visit
to
the
Sunyani
Zongo,
some
Muslims
expressed
shock
and
surprise
at
the
invasion,
claiming
that
it
was
the
first
time
it
had
occurred
at
the
mosque.
Qwame
Benedict
is
an
entertainment
editor
at
GhPage.com,
He
has
a
Degree
in
Public
Administration
and
Information
Studies
from
the
University
of
Ghana.
His
professional
career
in
entertainment
journalism
dates
back
to
2015
when
he
was
writing
for
the
now-defunct
EnterGhana.com.
He
also
got
the
chance
to
write
for
K-Hitz
radio
before
joining
GhPage
in
2017.