Kwesi Pratt Jnr backs ban on preaching in commercial vehicles

Veteran journalist and Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has declared his support for proposed restrictions on preaching and hawking in commercial vehicles. Speaking during a segment on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana, Pratt argued that the practice of unsolicited preaching in public transport imposes religious messages on a captive audience, often creating an environment of discomfort rather than spiritual enrichment.

Pratt specifically criticized preachers who deliver frightening messages about road safety and prophecies of accidents during long journeys. He noted that travel is already a stressful experience for many, and being subjected to prophecies of "doom" only exacerbates the anxiety of passengers. He questioned the audacity of individuals who take it upon themselves to dictate the spiritual atmosphere of a shared bus, suggesting that such actions do not respect the psychological well-being of travellers.

The veteran journalist grounded his stance in the 1992 Constitution, emphasizing that every Ghanaian has the right to freedom of conscience and the liberty to choose their own beliefs. He argued that forcing passengers to listen to a specific religious viewpoint violates these fundamental rights. According to Pratt, allowing diverse religious expressions in the confined space of a commercial vehicle could lead to confusion and conflict, especially when passengers belong to different faiths or hold no religious beliefs at all.

In his concluding remarks, Pratt insisted that the rights of individual passengers to a peaceful and neutral journey must be upheld above the desires of preachers. He criticized those opposing the ban, suggesting that public transport should not be used as a platform for imposing personal beliefs on others. The debate continues to spark conversation across the country regarding the balance between religious freedom and the rights of citizens in shared public spaces.