The Head Pastor of the Holy Hill Chapel of the Assemblies of God, Reverend Dr Kwadwo Boateng Bempah, has stated that the government will not succeed in its attempt to stop preaching in public vehicles.
In a message delivered to his congregation and widely circulated on social media, the reverend said the church would not be silenced and that the word of God must go forth wherever people gather. He said the attempt to stop preaching in buses is an attempt to gag the church.
"Now they say we shouldn't preach in the bus as if they bought a bus for somebody. When those little attempts begin, they are trying to shock the mouth of the church. But others are screaming early morning at 4.30 a.m. in loudspeakers. You didn't buy a bus for anybody. You say we shouldn't preach in the bus. When my bus is going, come and tell me," he said.
"So today I sent the message. Who is behind that? The church is too quiet. People are secretly planning, planning, planning. I don't know who they are, but I'm talking to them. But you will not succeed. Oh, what you are trying to do, you will not succeed. You will not succeed. Wherever human beings gather, we will preach. Wherever human beings gather, the word must go forth. Wherever human beings gather, they go to the school. We bring them. They enter phone. We will bring them. They enter the car. We will bring them. Even at the back of Okada we will be shouting the name Jesus," he added.
Rev. Dr Bempah said if the church is truly grateful, it must be loud. He argued that if those who brought Christianity to Ghana had behaved in a quiet manner, the faith would never have reached the country.
"Can I warn you? Never please people to displease God," he said. "Now you will get some educated Christians to come and start analysing. My friend, keep your certificate to yourself."
The remarks follow the coming into force of a new law that prohibits preaching and hawking on public service vehicles while they are in motion.
The regulation, passed by Parliament in May 2026, classifies preaching and hawking on moving vehicles as a nuisance and cites the safety and comfort of passengers. Anyone found preaching in a public service vehicle faces up to eight months in prison, a fine of up to GHS600, or both.
Under Ghana's Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), preaching inside a moving public or commercial vehicle (such as a bus or trotro) can result in a fine of 10 to 50 penalty units (approximately GH¢120 to GH¢600, or about $51–$52 USD), imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.
The practice remains widespread in Ghana, a predominantly Christian country, particularly on long-distance buses where preachers often stand in the stairwell or walk along the aisle. Some passengers offer money to support the preachers' endeavours.
The new rules have divided opinion. Critics argue that preaching on moving vehicles is a nuisance and a safety risk that could distract drivers, while supporters contend that evangelism is a Christian duty and should be protected under the freedom of religious worship.
Preaching on commercial buses was first prohibited in Ghana in 2012, with offenders facing up to 30 days in prison, but enforcement was weak and the practice remained common. The new law increases the penalties for those who flout the ban. Preachers using megaphones at lorry parks and markets are not affected by the ban.
