The Head Pastor of the Holy Hill Chapel of the Assemblies of God, Reverend Dr Kwadwo Boateng Bempah, has stated that the government will not succeed in its attempt to stop preaching in public vehicles.
In a message delivered to his congregation and widely circulated on social media, the reverend said the church would not be silenced and that the word of God must go forth wherever people gather. He said the attempt to stop preaching in buses is an attempt to gag the church.
“Now they say we shouldn’t preach in the bus as if they bought a bus for somebody. When those little attempts begin, they are trying to shock the mouth of the church. But others are screaming early morning at 4.30 a.m. in loudspeakers. You didn’t buy a bus for anybody. You say we shouldn’t preach in the bus. When my bus is going, come and tell me,” he said.
“So today I sent the message. Who is behind that? The church is too quiet. People are secretly planning, planning, planning. I don’t know who they are, but I’m talking to them. But you will not succeed. Oh, what you are trying to do, you will not succeed. You will not succeed. Wherever human beings gather, we will preach. Wherever human beings gather, the word must go forth. Wherever human beings gather, they go to the school. We bring them. They enter phone. We will bring them. They enter the car. We will bring them. Even at the back of Okada we will be shouting the name Jesus,” he added.
Rev. Dr Bempah said if the church is truly grateful, it must be loud. He argued that if those who brought Christianity to Ghana had behaved in a quiet manner, the faith would never have reached the country.
“Can I warn you? Never please people to displease God,” he said. “Now you will get some educated Christians to come and start analysing. My friend, keep your certificate to yourself.”
The new rules have divided opinion. Critics argue that preaching on moving vehicles is a nuisance and a safety risk that could distract drivers, while supporters contend that evangelism is a Christian duty and should be protected under the freedom of religious worship.
Preaching on commercial buses was first prohibited in Ghana in 2012, with offenders facing up to 30 days in prison, but enforcement was weak and the practice remained common. The new law increases the penalties for those who flout the ban. Preachers using megaphones at lorry parks and markets are not affected by the ban.
