President John Dramani Mahama has said Ghana has not banned preaching in vehicles, only in moving ones, as pastors split over a road traffic rule carrying jail terms.
The clarification came as Citi News reported that the government had suspended enforcement of the provision while it consults further following a public backlash. The government has not issued an official statement on the scope of the suspension or what happens next.
The dispute centres on Regulation 141 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), which Parliament passed in May. It makes it an offence to cause or permit a nuisance, including preaching and hawking, in a public or commercial vehicle while it is moving. Offenders face a fine of 10 to 50 penalty units, which comes to GH¢120 to GH¢600 at GH¢12 a unit, up to eight months in prison, or both.
The restriction itself is not new. Regulation 116 of the 2012 Road Traffic Regulations already banned preaching and hawking in moving commercial vehicles, with a maximum of 30 days in prison, but it was rarely enforced. The 2026 rules raise the penalties, and the Ministry of Transport has been running public education on them alongside other reforms, including automated enforcement and a demerit-point system for drivers. Preachers using megaphones at lorry stations and markets are not covered.
Mahama said the rule applies to everyone regardless of faith and exists to protect drivers and passengers from distraction. Preachers can still address passengers when a vehicle is parked, he said. “It is not true that we have banned preaching in vehicles,” he said.
Religious leaders have reacted sharply. Rev. Dr Kwadwo Boateng Bempah, Head Pastor of Holy Hill Chapel of the Assemblies of God, told his congregation in a sermon that circulated widely online that the restriction was an attempt to gag the church and would fail. He asked why preaching on buses should be singled out when others use loudspeakers in public early in the morning.
Prophetic Hill Chapel founder Nigel Gaisie said in a Facebook post on 8 October that he would soon preach on buses and lorries and dared the authorities to arrest him, GhanaWeb reported.
Prophet Telvin Sowah Adjei, speaking in an interview with broadcaster Nana Romeo, argued that a sermon was no more of a nuisance than passengers making phone calls, playing music or watching videos. He suggested the government’s real concern may be preaching that turns into arguments, which drivers may not want on board, according to GhanaWeb.
Prophet Kumchacha took the opposite view. He said pastors should obey the law and take their objections through proper channels rather than threaten defiance, arguing that the Bible teaches respect for the law, GhanaWeb reported.
Supporters of the rule say passengers should not be subjected to unwanted sermons during a journey and that a preacher standing in a moving bus aisle is a safety risk. Opponents say evangelism is a religious duty protected by freedom of worship.
The Central Charismatic Baptist Church has separately called for the provision to be reviewed.
