Bee stings have healing powers, they're medicinal – Professor Combey advocates Apitherapy

As the world marked World Bee Day on May 20, entomologist and Deputy Director of the International Stingless Bee Center, Professor Rofela Combey, delivered an eye-opening message: don’t fear the sting—embrace its healing potential.

In an interview with Connect FM during their midday news segment Orokodo Kasaebo, Professor Combey challenged common fears around bees and their painful stings. Despite the discomfort, she said, science increasingly supports the idea that bee venom has medicinal benefits.

“Their stings are medicinal. We are in an era of new medicine—apitherapy. Some of us [humans] don't need much… a sting or two is enough. But the fear of bees triggers that flight response when one is stung.”

She noted that although many people instinctively recoil from bees, new research is revealing that their stings may hold therapeutic value for certain conditions. Studies are already exploring the use of bee venom in alternative medicine practices, a growing field known as apitherapy.

“We have documented these medicinal uses and are now investigating the science behind them—how to administer them, dosage, susceptibility levels, and other medical applications,” she added.

Beyond their medicinal potential, Professor Combey emphasized bees’ critical role in ecosystems and agriculture. Ghana alone is home to over 150 known species of bees—many of which are stingless—and she called for greater appreciation and protection of these vital pollinators.

“They are animals. We need to learn to coexist with them. Research conducted in Ghana shows we have over 150 bee species, many of which are stingless,” she said.

However, despite bees’ importance to food security and biodiversity, Ghana has yet to adopt legal protections for them. Professor Combey revealed that efforts are underway to change this.

“We are engaging the Ghanaian government to institute bee protection laws. Our economy is largely agrarian, so preserving bees is in our best interest.”

She also touched on ongoing partnerships between the University of Cape Coast, international bodies, and the Ghanaian government to promote bee preservation and revive the country’s honey industry—currently banned in the EU market due to quality concerns.

“We are collaborating with government agencies through UCC, as well as partners in Germany and the EU, to advance this cause. Unfortunately, Ghanaian honey has been banned in the EU market, but we are working to address this,” she said.

As Ghana looks to strengthen its agricultural resilience and environmental sustainability, Professor Combey’s call is clear: protecting bees isn’t just about saving the insects—it’s about securing the nation’s future.