President Mahama Breaks Silence on Preaching Ban in Vehicles, Reveals What Is Allowed

President John Dramani Mahama has clarified that the government has not banned preaching in vehicles, explaining that the restrictions under the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), apply only when vehicles are moving.

The President made the clarification amid public controversy surrounding Regulation 141 of the Legislative Instrument, which has generated discussions about religious freedom and the enforcement of road safety rules.

According to Mahama, the regulation is intended to protect drivers and passengers by preventing activities that could distract drivers or compromise the safety of people travelling in commercial and other vehicles.

Speaking on the issue for the first time, the President said there appeared to be a misunderstanding about the government’s position, particularly regarding religious activities conducted inside vehicles.

“It has come to my attention that there is a perception that we have banned preaching in vehicles,” Mahama said, stressing that the government’s intention was not to prohibit religious expression altogether.

He explained that preaching and selling are not permitted in moving vehicles, regardless of the religious beliefs of those involved. However, he emphasised that these activities can take place when the vehicle is stationary.

“What we are saying is that no one should preach or sell in a moving vehicle. Regardless of your faith, you cannot preach in a moving vehicle, but you can preach when the vehicle is stationary,” he stated.

The President reiterated that the restriction applies equally to people of all faiths, indicating that the regulation is not directed at any particular religious group or belief system.

His comments seek to address concerns among religious communities and members of the public who may have interpreted the regulation as a blanket ban on preaching inside vehicles.

The clarification also highlights the government’s stated focus on road safety, with the restriction covering both preaching and commercial activities, including selling goods while a vehicle is in motion

Mahama maintained that the government had not outlawed preaching in vehicles, but was drawing a distinction between activities conducted while travelling and those undertaken when vehicles have stopped.

The debate over Regulation 141 has placed renewed attention on how road traffic rules can be enforced while respecting religious expression and the everyday practices of passengers and commercial transport operators.

With the President’s clarification, the government is seeking to make its position clear: preaching and selling are prohibited in moving vehicles, but remain permissible when vehicles are stationary, in line with the regulation.

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