Religious preaching on commercial buses in Ghana could soon become less common as authorities begin enforcing a new law that prohibits pastors and other preachers from conducting religious activities on moving public vehicles.
The regulation, passed by Ghana’s Parliament in May, classifies preaching and hawking on vehicles in motion as a nuisance that could affect passengers’ safety and comfort.
Anyone who violates the rule could face up to eight months in prison, a fine of up to $52, or both.
Preaching on buses has been a familiar practice in Ghana, where Christianity is widely practised. Pastors often board long-distance buses and deliver sermons to passengers during journeys, sometimes using loud voices or moving through the aisles while reading from the Bible.
One of the affected preachers is 61-year-old Boateng Bismark James, who has been preaching on commercial buses departing from Accra’s Neoplan Station since 2023.
Boateng said he sees bus evangelism as a way of reaching people who may not regularly attend church. He also said the donations he receives from passengers have helped him support his family, including paying for his children’s education.
The new regulation has sparked mixed reactions among passengers and religious leaders.
Some commuters welcome the ban, saying they should be able to travel without being subjected to loud preaching. Others believe pastors should be allowed to evangelise if passengers are willing to listen.
One passenger, Bernice Nartey, said preaching could provide encouragement to people dealing with difficult circumstances, but suggested that preachers should first obtain passengers’ consent.
The government’s position has also raised questions about religious freedom. Ghana’s Constitution protects freedom of religion, although such rights can be restricted where necessary for public safety and other considerations.
The prohibition is not entirely new. Preaching on commercial buses was banned in Ghana in 2012, but weak enforcement allowed the practice to continue. The latest regulation introduces tougher penalties and is now being enforced more actively.
However, preachers who operate at bus stations, markets and lorry parks using megaphones are not covered by the new restriction.
Rev Enoch Paul Hayes, a senior pastor with the International Central Gospel Church, said the regulation does not necessarily violate religious freedom. He advised pastors to comply with the law and explore other platforms, including social media, to spread their messages.
For bus preachers like Boateng, the new rules mean they may have to change how they conduct their ministry, lose an important source of income or risk prosecution by continuing to preach on moving buses.
