Ghana Bans Preaching on Buses — Offenders Could Face Jail

Ghana has passed a new law that bans preaching on public buses while they are moving. Anyone caught breaking the rule could face up to eight months in prison, a fine of about $52, or both. The law was passed by Ghana's parliament in May and has recently begun to be enforced. It is dividing people in this deeply religious West African country, where preaching on buses has been very common for many years.

For decades, it was normal to see and hear pastors preaching on long-distance buses in Ghana. Some would stand near the driver, while others walked up and down the aisle reading from the Bible. They would call on passengers to repent, sometimes for hours at a time. Passengers who supported the preachers would often give them money as a gift.

One well-known bus preacher is Boateng Bismark James, a 61-year-old pastor at Gospel Light church in Accra, Ghana's capital. He has been preaching on commercial buses since 2023. Each morning, he leads a group of fellow Christians in prayer at the Neoplan bus station before boarding buses headed to cities around the country. He says his mission is to bring a message of hope to people who may never set foot in a church.

"I preach on commercial vehicles because not everyone is able to go to church on Sunday," Boateng told the BBC. "There are a lot of passengers who need our message of salvation to repent from their sins." He also said he and other preachers have helped heal sick passengers on some buses. For Boateng, preaching is not just a religious calling — it is also how he earns money to support his family.

"I have been able to take care of my children's education," he said. "My last-born just completed university, and half of the financial support came from money I got from preaching." Boateng said the new law shocked him and worries him deeply. He is asking the government to make an exception for religious preachers, at least while buses are still leaving the city.

The new law has split public opinion in Ghana. Critics say preachers on moving buses are a nuisance and a safety risk, because they can distract the driver. Supporters argue that spreading the Christian faith is a religious duty and should be protected under Ghana's freedom of religion laws. Ghana's constitution does guarantee freedom of religion, but it allows limits when public safety is involved.

Some passengers are relieved by the new rule. A woman named Chery Lokko said she just wants to travel in peace. "Some of them spit saliva on you unconsciously, especially if you are seated not far from them, and they are a nuisance in terms of noise and saliva," she said. A video shared widely on social media showed a frustrated passenger shouting at a pastor to get off a minibus before it departed.

Others feel differently. Bernice Nartey, a passenger traveling to Kumasi — Ghana's second-largest city — said preachers should be allowed on buses, but only if passengers agree. She said the messages can help people going through hard times. "If someone is going through a stressful situation, the message of the pastor can give the person renewed hope," she explained.

Ghana actually banned preaching on commercial buses back in 2012, but the rule was rarely enforced and preachers kept doing it. The new law increases the penalties to make the ban harder to ignore. Preachers who use megaphones at bus stations and markets are not covered by the ban — only those preaching on moving vehicles. The new law also bans hawking, or selling goods, on moving buses, calling both activities a nuisance that affects passenger safety and comfort.

Not all religious leaders are against the new rule. Reverend Enoch Paul Hayes, a senior pastor at one of Ghana's largest churches, told the BBC he does not think the law violates religious freedom. He encouraged fellow pastors to respect the law and find new ways to share their message. "There is social media as an alternative outlet, where the same message can reach thousands of people," he said.