President John Dramani Mahama has clarified that the amended Road Traffic Regulation, 2026, which prohibits preaching and hawking on moving public buses, is not intended to prevent the propagation of the gospel.

Rather, he said, the regulation, Legislative Instrument (LI) 2519, was designed to protect passengers, safeguard preachers and hawkers, and improve road safety.

Sections 141 and 142 of the amended regulation, among other provisions, prescribe a fine of between 10 and 50 penalty units or imprisonment for up to eight months for persons who preach or hawk on moving public or commercial vehicles.

The regulation has drawn criticism from some pastors, who have accused the government of attempting to “shut the mouth of the church” and interfere with their religious mandate to evangelise.