Why government has put preaching, hawking ban in moving trotro on hold

Reports reaching the desk of GhanaWeb suggest that the government has suspended the enforcement of a new road traffic rule that seeks to stop people from preaching or selling goods inside moving trotros and buses.

According to a myjoyonline.com report, the suspension follows public concerns about the restriction, particularly from religious leaders who have raised questions about how the ban could affect evangelism by various religious denominations.

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The Accra-based news portal said that although a high-ranking government source confirmed the decision to them, the government has not announced how long the suspension will last or when it will make a final decision on the rule.

The new Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), classify preaching and hawking in moving public or commercial vehicles as a nuisance.

The rule affects activities commonly seen in trotros and buses, where some preachers share religious messages with passengers while others sell items during journeys.

The restrictions have raised concerns about the effect on religious activities, leading to calls for further consideration of the measure.

Under Regulation 141 of L.I. 2519, anyone who breaks the rule could be fined between GH¢120 and GH¢600, jailed for up to eight months, or face both penalties.

The fine is based on the value of one penalty unit, which is GH¢12.

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The previous Road Traffic Regulations, 2012 (L.I. 2180), also prohibited preaching and hawking in public or commercial vehicles while they were moving.

The new regulation maintains the restriction but sets out a maximum prison term of eight months.

MAG/VPO

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