The Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana have rejected the government’s decision to suspend the enforcement of a ban on preaching and hawking in moving commercial vehicles, insisting that Regulation 141 of the Road Traffic Regulations, 2026 (L.I. 2519), must be implemented with immediate effect.
The group said it is disappointed with the government’s decision and maintained that enforcing the regulation was necessary to protect passengers’ safety and comfort.
In a statement, the operators vowed to resist any attempt to suspend the provision, declaring that preachers and hawkers would not be allowed to conduct their activities in vehicles operated by their members.
“We maintain that L.I. 2519, Regulation 141, must be enforced with immediate effect to ensure passenger safety and comfort,” the statement said.
The group added that its members would not permit religious preaching or the sale of goods aboard their vehicles, despite the government’s decision to halt enforcement of the restriction.
“No preaching or hawking will be allowed in our vehicles,” the operators declared.
The government’s decision suspends the enforcement of Regulation 141 of L.I. 2519, which classified preaching and hawking in moving commercial and public transport vehicles, including tro-tros and buses, as a nuisance.
The provision attracted public debate, with some religious leaders and other stakeholders raising concerns about its implications for religious expression and evangelism.
Among those who opposed the restriction is the Member of Parliament for Assin South, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, who questioned its implications for religious activities in public transport.
Under the provision, offenders faced penalties ranging from 10 to 50 penalty units, imprisonment for up to eight months, or both.
The government’s decision to suspend enforcement has, however, drawn opposition from the Commercial Transport Operators of Ghana, who insist that the restriction should remain in force.
The group’s position raises questions about how its members will respond to the government’s suspension and whether further discussions will be held to resolve the disagreement.
The operators did not specify in their statement what actions they intended to take to resist the suspension or whether they had engaged the government on the matter.
By 1960news.com
