Fix faulty traffic lights, road signs before focusing on bus preaching – Elvis Darko tells gov't 

The Managing Editor of the Newscaneta Newspaper, Elvis Darko, has urged the government to prioritise road safety infrastructure instead of focusing on restrictions on preaching in moving public transport vehicles.

His comments come amid public debate over Regulation 141 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), which prohibits preaching and hawking inside public and commercial vehicles while they are in motion.

The regulation attracted criticism from some religious leaders and members of the public over its implications for evangelism and religious expression.

President John Dramani Mahama clarified on October 9 that the restriction did not prohibit preaching in stationary vehicles, explaining that preachers must stop once a vehicle begins moving.

The government also suspended implementation of the provision amid the public debate.

Reacting to the development, the journalist argued that malfunctioning traffic lights, poor road markings, missing road signs and the limited use of technology to enforce traffic rules deserves greater attention.

Darko said these issues posed serious road safety concerns and should be addressed alongside other measures to reduce road crashes.

Speaking on Accra-based Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Monday, October 12, he questioned the focus on preaching in moving vehicles while other potential sources of distraction and road safety problems remained.

“We have things that are the major causes of accident. We are not fixing them as a country,” he said.

Darko cited the absence of functional traffic lights and streetlights in parts of Accra, adding that road markings and signs were also missing in several locations.

He further called for the integration of technology into road construction and traffic management to help detect speeding and other traffic violations without relying solely on police officers.

He argued that loud music played through vehicle sound systems, promotional vehicles and political campaign trucks could also distract drivers, questioning why preaching had attracted particular attention.

“If a car can play music, okay, and it's okay, how is preaching different from the car? Is it all not the same sound?” he asked.