Seven people have been hospitalised after unknown gunmen stormed the Ho Central Mosque on Friday, December 26, 2025, disrupting Jummah prayers and injuring several members of the Muslim community.

Security personnel from the Ghana Police Service (GPS) and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) swiftly moved to the scene, leading to the arrest of 15 individuals who are currently in police custody assisting with investigations.

Although the immediate cause of the gunfire remains unclear, the incident is believed to be linked to a long-standing leadership dispute within the Muslim community in the Volta Region. For more than a decade, two factions, led by Alhaji Alfa Anas and a recently installed imam, have been at odds over who is the legitimate regional chief imam.

Eyewitnesses said that the incident occurred at about 9 AM, when the newly installed chief imam arrived at the mosque to lead the Friday prayers. Others reported that the gunmen wore face masks, making identification difficult.

Class Media Group (CMG) reporter Solomon Mensah-Ahiable gathered information suggesting that the violence erupted after some youth aligned with Alhaji Alfa Anas clashed with armed men allegedly providing security for the newly installed imam.

The incident has shocked residents, particularly as security agencies in the municipality had only days earlier embarked on a joint route march to assure the public of their preparedness to maintain peace before, during, and after the festive season.

This is not the first time clashes have erupted over imamship disputes in the area.

Residents of the Ho Zongo community, expressing fear and concern, have appealed to the government and other relevant stakeholders, especially the national leadership of Muslims, to intervene urgently to prevent further violence and bloodshed.