Pastors who preach on commercial buses in Ghana may soon have to abandon the practice following the enforcement of a new law prohibiting preaching and hawking on moving public service vehicles.
The regulation, approved by Ghana’s Parliament in May, classifies preaching and hawking on moving vehicles as a nuisance that could affect passengers’ safety and comfort. Anyone found violating the rule could face up to eight months in prison, a fine of up to $52, or both.
Preaching on public transport has long been common in Ghana, a predominantly Christian country. Pastors often board long-distance buses, walk through the aisles and preach to passengers, sometimes for hours during journeys.
One of them is 61-year-old Boateng Bismark James, a pastor with Gospel Light Church who has been preaching on commercial buses departing from Accra’s Neoplan bus station since 2023.
Boateng said he preaches on buses because many people do not attend church and may never hear the Christian message otherwise.
“Not everyone is able to go to church on Sunday. There are many passengers who need the message of salvation,” he said.
However, the new regulation has divided public opinion.
Some passengers support the ban, arguing that loud preaching can disturb travellers and potentially distract drivers. Chery Lokko, a passenger in her early 30s, said she prefers to travel in peace and finds some bus preachers disruptive.
Others believe preaching should continue, provided passengers agree to it. Bernice Nartey, who was travelling to Kumasi, said religious messages could provide hope and encouragement to people facing difficult situations.
Boateng has appealed to the government to exempt religious preachers from the regulation. He said many pastors depend on financial donations from passengers to support their families.
According to him, income from preaching has helped him pay for his children’s education, including university expenses for his youngest child.
Ghana first prohibited preaching on commercial buses in 2012, but enforcement was weak and the practice remained widespread. The latest regulation strengthens the penalties for offenders.
The ban applies specifically to preaching on moving public service vehicles. Religious preaching using megaphones at lorry parks and markets is not covered by the new restriction.
Rev Enoch Paul Hayes, a senior pastor at the International Central Gospel Church, said the new rules do not necessarily violate religious freedom. He urged pastors to obey the law and explore alternative ways of reaching people, including social media.
For bus preachers such as Boateng, the new regulation presents a difficult choice: adapt their ministry, lose an important source of income or risk facing legal consequences.
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