Ghana has moved to stop preaching and hawking inside moving public service vehicles, with offenders facing a fine, up to eight months in jail, or both.
The restriction is contained in Ghana’s Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), which classify preaching and hawking in a moving public or commercial vehicle as a nuisance.
Under Regulation 141, offenders can be fined between 10 and 50 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120(KSh1,326) and GH¢600(KSh6,628), or face imprisonment of up to eight months.
The Ghana Ministry of Transport has launched a nationwide campaign to sensitise road users on the new traffic regulations, which were approved by Parliament on May 28, 2026.
Transport Minister Joseph Bukari Nikpe said the new framework was designed to improve road safety and strengthen enforcement across the country.
The crackdown has attracted attention because preaching on commercial buses is common in Ghana, particularly on long-distance routes.
Pastors and other preachers have traditionally boarded buses and moved through the aisles delivering sermons, praying for passengers and asking for financial support.
One preacher, Boateng Bismark James, told the BBC that he has been preaching on commercial vehicles since 2023.
“I preach on commercial vehicles because not everyone is able to go to church on Sunday,” he said.
James argued that some passengers encounter the Christian message through public transport and urged the government to allow preachers to continue with the practice under certain conditions.
The new rules have, however, divided opinion among passengers.
Some travellers say preaching inside buses can be disruptive, particularly when preachers use loud voices or move through crowded aisles.
Others argue that passengers should be allowed to listen to religious messages if they are willing.
The restriction is also not entirely new. Ghana’s previous 2012 Road Traffic Regulations already prohibited preaching and hawking in moving public or commercial vehicles, but enforcement was weak.
The 2026 regulations have now brought the provision back into focus with tougher penalties and a nationwide public education campaign.
The rules do not ban preaching in Ghana generally. Preachers can still evangelise at churches, markets and other places, provided they comply with applicable laws.
The government says the wider traffic reforms are aimed at making Ghana’s roads safer and improving discipline among road users.
The new regulations also introduce tougher penalties for offences including speeding, dangerous driving, overloading and other violations, alongside measures such as automated traffic enforcement and a demerit-point system for drivers.
