Commercial transport operators in Ghana have rejected the government’s decision to suspend the enforcement of restrictions on preaching and hawking inside moving public transport vehicles, insisting that they will continue to prohibit the activities in their vehicles.
The operators say the restrictions are necessary to protect passengers’ comfort and safety and to minimise distractions during journeys.
In a statement dated October 9, 2026, the group maintained that Regulation 141 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), should be enforced despite the government’s decision to suspend its implementation.
The statement was signed by the group’s National Chairman, Asonaba Nana Owiredu, and National Public Relations Officer, Yaw Barimah, with Charles Danso signing on behalf of the Ghana Committed Association.
The operators expressed opposition to any attempt to prevent the regulation from taking effect, declaring that preaching and hawking would not be permitted in vehicles operated by their members.
The decision comes amid public debate over the regulation, which seeks to restrict certain activities inside public transport vehicles while they are in motion.
Preaching inside commercial vehicles, particularly trotro buses, is common in Ghana, where religious speakers often use journeys to share their messages with passengers. The proposed restrictions have therefore generated discussion about the balance between religious expression, passenger comfort and road safety.
Some religious leaders and other stakeholders have raised concerns about the implications of the regulation, contributing to the government’s decision to suspend its implementation.
President John Dramani Mahama has clarified that the restriction should not be interpreted as a blanket ban on preaching in vehicles. His explanation distinguished between preaching when a vehicle is stationed at a terminal and preaching while it is moving.
However, the transport operators insist that activities inside moving vehicles must be regulated to ensure passengers are not subjected to unwanted interruptions and that drivers can concentrate on the road.
Regulation 141 also covers hawking, which involves selling goods to passengers inside moving commercial vehicles. The provision stipulates penalties ranging from 10 to 50 penalty units, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.
The operators’ decision to maintain their own restrictions despite the government’s suspension has raised questions about how the regulation will be implemented and whether further clarification will be issued by the relevant authorities.
The disagreement has brought renewed attention to the responsibilities of commercial transport operators and the challenges of balancing public safety with individual freedoms in shared transport spaces.
While the government’s suspension has created uncertainty over enforcement, the operators say they intend to maintain their position on preaching and hawking in their vehicles.
Source: Thepressradio.com
