The Ghanaian government has introduced a new law that bans preaching on public service vehicles, including buses, with offenders facing up to eight months in prison, a fine of up to $52 (£39), or both. The regulation, passed by parliament in May, targets preaching and hawking on vehicles while they are in motion, classifying both as a nuisance and citing the safety and comfort of passengers. This move aims to address concerns over the potential distraction of drivers and the disturbance caused to passengers.
Preaching on public transport has long been a common practice in Ghana, a predominantly Christian country. Pastors often board buses and preach to passengers, sometimes standing in the stairwell or walking up and down the aisle reading from the Bible. While some passengers welcome the message, others find it a nuisance, especially if it lasts for several hours. The faithful sometimes offer money to the preachers to support their endeavours. However, not everyone is comfortable with this practice, citing concerns over noise, saliva, and distraction.
The new law has divided opinion, with critics arguing that preaching on moving vehicles is a safety risk and a nuisance, while supporters believe that evangelism is a Christian duty and should be protected under the freedom of religious worship. Some passengers, like Chery Lokko, prefer to travel in peace and find the preaching a disturbance. In contrast, others, like Bernice Nartey, believe that pastors should be allowed to preach, but only with passengers' consent. The Christian Council of Ghana has not commented on the issue.
Boateng Bismark James, a 61-year-old pastor at Gospel Light church, has been preaching on commercial vehicles leaving Neoplan station since 2023. He believes that preaching on buses is essential to reach people who may not attend church, and that it is a source of income for him and other pastors. Boateng wants religious preachers to be given an exemption from the new law, allowing them to continue preaching on buses. He argues that the government should allow them to preach on buses and alight when exiting Accra.
The new law has significant implications for pastors like Boateng, who depend on preaching to take care of their families. Boateng's last-born child recently completed university, and half of the financial support came from money he got from preaching. The government should consider the impact of the law on these individuals and find alternative solutions. Rev Enoch Paul Hayes, a senior pastor at the International Central Gospel Church, urges his fellow pastors not to break the law and instead use social media as an alternative outlet to spread their message.
Ghana's constitution guarantees freedom of religion, although those rights are subject to considerations including public safety. Preaching on commercial buses was first prohibited in Ghana in 2012, with offenders facing up to 30 days in prison. However, enforcement was weak, and the practice remained common. The new law beefs up the penalties for those that flout the ban, making it a more serious offence.
The ban on preaching on buses does not affect preachers using megaphones at Ghana's lorry parks and markets. For Boateng and other bus preachers, the new rules create a difficult choice between adapting their ministry, giving up an important source of income, or risking falling foul of the law. As the law starts to be enforced, it remains to be seen how pastors and passengers will adapt to this new regulation.
Key points
- The new law in Ghana bans preaching on public service vehicles with up to 8 months in prison for offenders.
- The law aims to address concerns over safety and comfort of passengers.
- The move has divided opinion among passengers and pastors.
