Govt suspends enforcement of ban on preaching in moving vehicles

The government has suspended the implementation of a controversial provision in the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, which prohibits preaching and hawking in moving public and commercial vehicles.

The decision follows public debate over the regulation, with religious leaders and other stakeholders raising concerns about its implications for evangelism and religious expression on commercial transport.

The restriction is contained in Regulation 141 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026, L.I. 2519, which prohibits causing or permitting a nuisance, including preaching and hawking, in a public or commercial vehicle while it is in motion.

Under the regulation, offenders face a fine ranging from 10 to 50 penalty units, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.

The provision has attracted attention because preaching aboard commercial buses is a common form of evangelism in Ghana, prompting questions about how the restriction would affect religious activities in public transport.

However, details of the suspension remain unclear, including whether the government intends to review the provision or introduce changes to its enforcement.

The government has yet to issue an official statement explaining the scope of the suspension or outlining the next steps regarding the regulation.