Ghana bans preaching on buses

For years, preaching on commercial buses has been a familiar part of travelling in Ghana, with pastors moving through bus aisles, quoting scripture and urging passengers to repent before their vehicles reach their destinations.

But a new regulation could bring the practice to an end, with people who preach on public service vehicles now facing up to eight months in prison, a fine of up to $52 (£39), or both.

The regulation, passed by Parliament in May and increasingly enforced in recent weeks, prohibits preaching and hawking on vehicles while they are in motion. The activities have been classified as a nuisance, with concerns about the safety and comfort of passengers cited as part of the justification.

At the Neoplan bus station in Accra, however, evangelism remains part of the morning routine.

Before buses begin their daily journeys, Boateng Bismark James leads a group of 13 Christians, comprising nine men and four women, in praise, worship and prayers for drivers and passengers.

Boateng, a 61-year-old pastor at Gospel Light Church, has been preaching on commercial vehicles departing from the station since 2023.

"I preach on commercial vehicles because not everyone is able to go to church on Sunday. There are a lot of passengers who need our message of salvation to repent from their sins. We even heal the sick on some buses," he told the BBC in Twi, a local language.

Dressed in a clerical collared shirt, Boateng moves between buses loading passengers before boarding one travelling to Kumasi. On this occasion, he speaks before the vehicle sets off to avoid violating the new regulation.

The practice has long been widespread on Ghana's long-distance buses. Preachers sometimes position themselves near the driver or walk through the aisle, reading passages from the Bible and calling on passengers to turn away from sin.

Some journeys last several hours, but the preaching can continue throughout the trip. Passengers sometimes give money to the preachers in support of their activities.

Boateng says the response from passengers has often been encouraging.

"Some passengers are very happy with my message. Some even say they have never heard the message in church, but through my preaching they now know it is in the Bible," he says.

New law divides opinion

The restriction has sparked differing views among passengers and religious groups.

Critics argue that preaching on moving vehicles can be disruptive and potentially dangerous because it could distract drivers. Supporters, however, maintain that evangelism is an important Christian responsibility and should be protected as part of freedom of religious worship.

Chery Lokko, a woman in her early 30s who prefers to travel without being identified beyond that name, said she welcomed the restrictions because she considers some bus preaching intrusive.

''I don't like it because they are a nuisance. Some of them spit saliva on you unconsciously, especially if you are seated not far from them, and they are a nuisance in terms of noise and saliva. I like my peace whenever I'm on public transport.''

A video recently circulated widely on social media showing a passenger confronting a pastor who was attempting to board a minibus.

"Get down, I say get down," he shouts.
Yet in a country where Christianity is deeply rooted and Ghana is regarded as one of the world's most religious nations, some passengers believe preaching on public transport provides an important opportunity to reach people who may not regularly attend church.

Bernice Nartey, a passenger travelling to Kumasi, said preaching could offer encouragement to people facing difficult circumstances but believed passengers should have a say in whether it takes place.

"The preaching sometimes helps people to repent. For instance, if someone is going through a stressful situation, the message of the pastor can give the person renewed hope," she says.

Pastor wants exemption

Boateng says the new regulation has left him worried and wants religious preachers to be exempted from the restriction.

"We are very worried, because most pastors here depend on preaching to take care of their families through the monetary gifts offered by passengers," he says.

"The government should allow us to preach on the buses and alight when it is exiting Accra," he adds.

For him, however, the issue extends beyond his religious calling. The money he receives from preaching has also helped him support his family.

"I have been able to take care of my children's education. My last-born just completed university, and half of the financial support came from money I got from preaching."

Ghana's Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, although the exercise of such rights is subject to considerations including public safety.

The practice of preaching on commercial buses was first prohibited in Ghana in 2012, when offenders faced up to 30 days in prison. Enforcement was, however, weak, allowing the practice to remain common, particularly on long-distance buses.

The latest regulation increases the penalties for those who breach the prohibition.

Preachers who use megaphones at lorry parks and markets remain unaffected by the ban.

The Christian Council of Ghana did not respond to a request for comment, but Rev Enoch Paul Hayes, a senior pastor at the International Central Gospel Church, one of Ghana's largest churches, said he did not believe the regulation infringed on religious freedom.

He urged pastors to comply with the law and explore other avenues to spread their message.

"There is social media as an alternative outlet, where the same message can reach thousands of people," he says.

For Boateng and other commercial bus preachers, the regulation now presents a difficult choice: change the way they conduct their ministry, lose an important source of income, or risk facing the consequences of breaking the law.