'Ban' on bus preaching must stand - IGER Africa

President of the Institute of Governance, Ethics and Religion (IGER-AFRICA), Paul Abrokwa, has said the prohibition of preaching in commercial buses in Ghana must stay.

His comment follows the clarification that President John Dramani Mahama provided on the provision under the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), which prohibits preaching and hawking in moving public and commercial vehicles.

President Mahama had explained that the law only prohibited these activities in moving public and commercial vehicles, and not in vehicles that are stationary.

"I have heard that some people are saying those who preach in buses, we are stopping those who preach in buses. We have not said so, if the bus is at the station, you can enter and preach the Word of God, but all we are saying is once the bus starts moving, such activities must then stop," President Mahama stated.

He gave the clarification at Amanfrom during an inspection tour of the Tepa–Agoaso Road in the Ahafo Region.

The President stated that the law had been in existence for a long time and that it was an amendment passed by Parliament to an old Legislative Instrument. He added that the old one contained the prohibition of hawking and preaching in trotro or buses moving on the road.

He said the measure was to ensure that the driver had full concentration, and to ensure safety on the bus.

In a statement, the IGER Africa President noted that in recent weeks, Ghana’s public transport regulations—specifically Legislative Instrument (L.I.) 2519, which prohibits preaching and commercial hawking on moving public transit—have sparked a fiery national debate. What should have been recognized as a straightforward measure to protect passenger comfort, road safety, and civic order has instead met vocal pushback from prominent clerical figures. When church leaders such as Rev. Dr. Kwadwo Boateng Bempah publicly declare that state regulations "will not succeed," or when figures like Prophet Nigel Gaisie threaten to board buses in deliberate defiance of the law, a crucial boundary between religious liberty and civic governance is crossed.

​"This resistance raises a fundamental question for modern African society: Is the refusal to abide by transit noise regulations a matter of sacred duty, or is it an outdated practice fueled by institutional pride and financial interest" his statement said.

It added that over the years, commercial buses (trotros) have increasingly turned into captive spaces where commuting citizens—many struggling with economic hardship and daily stress—are subjected to unsolicited preaching, emotional intimidation, and immediate requests for monetary offerings.

"In the 21st century, when digital media, broadcast networks, community centers, and local assemblies offer endless avenues for evangelism, insisting on preaching inside a crowded, moving bus is neither necessary nor defensible.

"​In response to this growing defiance, the Institute of Governance Ethics and Religion - Africa (IGER-Africa) has issued an official position paper dismantling the arguments against the ban. Grounded in biblical scholarship, legal precedent, and civic ethics, the position paper addresses the underlying hypocrisy of clergy who respect transit quiet zones abroad while defying them at home, calls out the historical exploitation of vulnerable commuters, and demands strict enforcement of state laws."