Why pastors may not be seen - or heard - preaching on Ghana's buses for much longer

Why pastors may soon no longer be seen — or heard — preaching on Ghana’s buses

Boateng Bismark James has been preaching on buses leaving Neoplan station since 2023

Before the morning rush gets underway, praise and worship echo through the Neoplan bus station in Ghana’s capital, Accra, as a group of Christians gather to evangelise on vehicles carrying travellers across the country.

Amid drumming and dancing, Boateng Bismark James leads 13 worshippers — nine men and four women — in prayer for drivers and passengers heading to destinations across Ghana.

Ghana is a largely Christian nation where preaching on public transport is common.

On long-distance buses, pastors can often be seen — and heard — preaching the gospel.

At times they stand in the stairwell beside the driver; at others they move up and down the aisle, reading from the Bible and urging sinners to repent at the top of their voices. They do not stop, even when the journey lasts several hours.

The faithful sometimes give money to the preachers to support their work.

But a new law means this familiar practice may be nearing its end.

Anyone caught preaching in public service vehicles faces up to eight months in prison, a fine of up to $52 (£39), or both.

The new regulation, passed by parliament in May and now being enforced in recent weeks, targets preaching and hawking on vehicles while they are moving, describing both as a nuisance and citing passenger safety and comfort.

Boateng, a 61-year-old pastor at Gospel Light church, has been preaching on commercial vehicles leaving Neoplan station since 2023.

"I preach on commercial vehicles because not everyone is able to go to church on Sunday. There are a lot of passengers who need our message of salvation to repent from their sins. We even heal the sick on some buses," he told the BBC in Twi, a local language.

Dressed in a clerical collared shirt, Boateng walks through rows of buses loading passengers before boarding one bound for Kumasi, Ghana’s second-largest city.

We speak to him before the bus leaves to avoid breaking the law.

Some travellers listen intently as he delivers his message. Others try to ignore him, scrolling on their phones, making calls or chatting among themselves.

"Some passengers are very happy with my message. Some even say they have never heard the message in church, but through my preaching they now know it is in the Bible," he says.

The new rules have split opinion.

Critics say preaching on moving vehicles is a nuisance and a safety hazard because it could distract the driver, while supporters argue that evangelism is a Christian duty and should be protected under freedom of religious worship.

One woman in her early 30s, who wants to be identified as Chery Lokko, says she prefers to travel in peace.

''I don't like it because they are a nuisance. 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. I like my peace whenever I'm on public transport.''

In one video widely shared on social media recently, a passenger on a minibus is seen angrily confronting a pastor trying to board.

"Get down, I say get down," he shouts.

But in this devout country, ranked among the most religious in the world, others say evangelism on public transport is an important way to reach people who may not attend church.

Bernice Nartey, a passenger travelling to Kumasi, says pastors should be allowed to preach, but only with passengers’ consent.

"The preaching sometimes helps people to repent. For instance, if someone is going through a stressful situation, the message of the pastor can give the person renewed hope," she says.

Boateng says he was shaken by the regulation and wants religious preachers to be granted an exemption.

"We are very worried, because most pastors here depend on preaching to take care of their families through the monetary gifts offered by passengers," he says.

"The government should allow us to preach on the buses and alight when it is exiting Accra," he adds.

For Boateng, preaching is not only a religious calling but also an important source of income.

"I have been able to take care of my children's education. My last-born just completed university, and half of the financial support came from money I got from preaching."

Preaching on commercial buses was first prohibited in Ghana in 2012, but the law banning it has now been strengthened

Ghana’s constitution guarantees freedom of religion, although those rights are subject to considerations including public safety.

Preaching on commercial buses was first prohibited in Ghana in 2012, with offenders facing up to 30 days in prison.

But enforcement was weak, so the practice remained common, particularly on buses. The new law increases the penalties for those who ignore the ban.

Preachers using megaphones can also often be seen and heard at Ghana’s lorry parks and markets, but they are not affected by the ban.

The Christian Council of Ghana did not respond to the BBC’s request for comment, but Rev Enoch Paul Hayes, a senior pastor at one of Ghana’s biggest churches, the International Central Gospel Church, tells the BBC he does not think the new rules violate religious freedom.

He urges fellow pastors not to break the law, saying they should find other ways to spread their message.

"There is social media as an alternative outlet, where the same message can reach thousands of people," he says.

For Boateng and other bus preachers, the new rules create a difficult choice between adapting their ministry, giving up an important source of income, or risking falling foul of the law.