At least 7 people were injured, when armed assailants stormed the Ho Central Mosque in Ghana’s Volta Region on Friday, opening fire on worshippers in what authorities believe is tied to a long-running dispute over mosque leadership.
According to preliminary accounts, about five masked men entered the mosque and began shooting, sending congregants scrambling for cover. The attack, which unfolded just moments after the Regional Chief Imam had departed the area, triggered panic across the Zongo community. Witnesses described scenes of terror as gunfire rang out and people fled in confusion.
Security forces responded swiftly. Police arrested several suspects at the scene, and the military was deployed to Ho to reinforce security and prevent further escalation. By late Friday, heavy joint patrols had been stationed around the mosque and adjoining neighborhoods.
In an interview with the media, a youth leader at the mosque, urged authorities to intervene decisively in the dispute that has divided the congregation. “The incident occurred just seconds after the Regional Chief Imam had left,” he said. “The person who directed the shooting told the attackers the Chief Imam was the target. When the Imam ran into a house, they shot his son in the leg.”
The motive for the attack has not been officially confirmed, but community leaders and security officials pointed to the protracted Imamship rivalry that has fueled tensions in recent months. Victims receiving treatment at the regional hospital recounted their ordeal to local media, though reporters have been restricted from entering the facility.
As of Friday evening, calm had been restored, but the incident underscored the fragility of peace in the community and the urgency of resolving the leadership dispute before it spirals further into violence according to observers.
