The Parliament of Ghana has approved a ban on preaching and hawking in moving public or commercial vehicles, as part of the country's 2026 road traffic regulations. The ban, which has been in existence since 2012, is aimed at improving road safety and discipline on Ghana's roads. Offenders could face 10 to 50 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120 to GH¢600, up to eight months in prison, or both.
The Road Traffic (Amendment) Act, 2025 (Act 1153) was passed by Parliament and assented to by the President on December 24, 2025. The Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519) were approved by Parliament on May 28, 2026. The Ministry of Transport has begun a nationwide public education campaign to make road users aware of the new rules contained in the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026.
The regulations introduce stricter custodial sentences, graduated fines, automated enforcement, and a demerit system for various traffic violations. The prohibition on preaching and hawking in moving vehicles is under Section 141 of the regulations, which prohibits causing or permitting a nuisance on a public or commercial vehicle while it is in motion.
A penalty unit is currently worth GH¢12, according to the Ghana Revenue Authority. The regulations provide a breakdown of the penalty units and their equivalent amounts in Ghanaian cedis. For example, 10 penalty units is equivalent to GH¢120, while 50 penalty units is equivalent to GH¢600.
The regulation indicates that preaching and hawking are forms of nuisance when carried out in a moving public or commercial vehicle. The road traffic reforms are designed to improve safety and discipline on Ghana's roads, and the new framework is intended to strengthen road-safety enforcement and make road users more aware of their responsibilities.
Activities inside a moving vehicle can create disturbances for passengers and potentially interfere with the driver, which is why the law addresses them within the road-traffic framework. The prohibition is not directed at one particular religion, but rather aims to promote road safety and discipline. Hawking inside a moving public or commercial vehicle is also prohibited under the regulations.
Passengers and preachers need to be aware that preaching or hawking while a public or commercial vehicle is moving is prohibited under Ghana's road traffic regulations. A person who breaches the provision can face 10 to 50 penalty units, up to eight months in prison, or both. The Ministry of Transport's public education campaign aims to educate road users on the new rules and promote compliance.
Key points
- Offenders could face 10 to 50 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢120 to GH¢600, up to eight months in prison, or both.
- The ban on preaching and hawking in moving vehicles is aimed at improving road safety and discipline on Ghana's roads.
- The regulations introduce stricter custodial sentences, graduated fines, automated enforcement, and a demerit system for various traffic violations.
