The Director of Education, Research and Training at the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD) of the Ghana Police Service, ACP Alexander Kwaku Obeng, has called for the strict enforcement of road traffic regulations governing activities such as preaching and selling goods inside moving commercial vehicles.
Speaking in a telephone interview on Ahotor 92.3 FM’s Adekyee Mu Nsem morning show with Nana Dogbe, ACP Obeng maintained that the law prohibiting such activities was not new and stressed that its enforcement should not be interpreted as an act of hostility towards Christianity.
He explained that the restriction was intended to promote road safety and protect passengers from distractions and discomfort during their journeys, rather than target any particular religious group.
According to ACP Obeng, preaching inside moving buses can distract passengers who may be trying to concentrate, meditate or prepare mentally for their daily activities. He added that sick passengers could also become uncomfortable or distressed by preaching during a journey.
He stressed that public transport serves people with different needs and circumstances, making it important to ensure that passengers can travel safely and peacefully without being subjected to activities they may find distracting or distressing.
ACP Obeng also identified the sale of goods inside moving commercial vehicles as an activity that must be addressed under the applicable road traffic regulations. He emphasised that vehicles in motion should not become venues for activities that could compromise the safety and comfort of passengers or distract drivers.
He explained that Ghana’s road traffic regulations provide a framework for managing road use by defining the responsibilities of motorists, pedestrians and transport operators, while helping to prevent road crashes.
He also raised concerns about illegal fees associated with road use and called for consistent enforcement of the relevant rules by the appropriate authorities.
Tracing the development of Ghana’s road traffic legislation, ACP Obeng referred to the Road Traffic Ordinance of 1952, the Road Traffic Act of 1959 and subsequent legal reforms, including the Road Traffic Act of 2004.
He noted that the legal framework had evolved over the years to respond to the country’s changing transport needs and establish standards for road users.
ACP Obeng emphasised that the existence of traffic laws alone was not enough, arguing that effective enforcement was essential to achieving the intended results.
He urged motorists, commercial drivers, pedestrians and other road users to familiarise themselves with the applicable regulations and comply with them to help reduce road crashes and protect lives.
Story by Freedom Etsey Lavoe
