BY ISSAH OLEGOR
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to passing the long-delayed Consumer Protection Bill, with the Minister for Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, describing the proposed legislation as a critical step toward strengthening consumer rights and building a fairer marketplace.
The assurance is contained in the foreword to The State of the Ghanaian Consumer: Consumer Rights, Awareness and Satisfaction Study, a comprehensive report published by CUTS International Accra.
The study assesses consumer awareness, satisfaction and experiences across key sectors including telecommunications, banking, aviation, road safety, electricity, water supply, waste management and e-commerce.
The report comes at a time when consumer advocacy groups have repeatedly called for stronger legal protections, arguing that Ghana remains one of the few countries without a comprehensive consumer protection law despite years of policy discussions.
Previous attempts to pass both the Consumer Protection Bill and the Competition Bill stalled before Parliament, leaving consumers to rely on sector-specific regulatory frameworks.
According to the Minister, the findings of the study provide timely and evidence-based insights that will help shape the government’s approach to consumer protection reforms.
She noted that consumer protection is not merely a regulatory issue but a fundamental pillar of the economic development, stressing that empowered consumers help promote competition, innovation, accountability and investor confidence.
Hon. Ofosu-Adjare acknowledged that although Ghana has made significant progress in expanding access to goods and services, many consumers continue to face persistent challenges, including poor service delivery, inadequate complaint resolution mechanisms, frequent service disruptions and low awareness of their legal rights.
She explained that these weaknesses undermine public confidence in the marketplace and require urgent legislative intervention.
The Minister recalled that the government, in its 2024 manifesto, made a firm commitment to enact both the Consumer Protection Bill and the Competition Bill into law, describing the promise as a major priority of the current administration.
According to her, the latest consumer study reinforces the urgency of fulfilling that pledge by providing a clear picture of the everyday experiences of Ghanaian consumers.
She said the proposed Consumer Protection Bill would seek to establish a comprehensive legal framework capable of addressing systemic consumer challenges while ensuring stronger accountability among service providers.
The legislation, she explained, is expected to promote nationwide consumer education, improve service quality standards, strengthen enforcement mechanisms and establish a dedicated authority responsible for protecting consumer interests and handling complaints.
“The findings of this study will play a pivotal role in fine-tuning the Consumer Protection Bill. By grounding the legislation in the realities faced by Ghanaians, we can craft a law that is both practical and impactful,” the Minister stated.
She further noted that government intends to undertake broad stakeholder consultations involving regulators, industry players, civil society organisations and consumers before the legislation is finalised to ensure that the law reflects the needs of all Ghanaians.
The report itself was produced by researchers A.K. Adomako, Daniel Okyere and Shadrack Nii Yarboi Yartey of CUTS International Accra with support from the National Communications Authority (NCA).
The publication also acknowledges the collaboration of several key regulatory institutions, including the Bank of Ghana (BoG), National Communications Authority (NCA), Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA), alongside legal experts and policy stakeholders who contributed technical input during the study.
CUTS International Accra said the research is intended to provide policymakers with credible evidence to support reforms aimed at improving consumer welfare across multiple sectors of the economy.
The organisation expressed optimism that the report would serve as an important policy tool in advancing consumer rights and strengthening regulatory oversight in Ghana.
The Minister concluded by calling on Parliament, regulators, businesses, civil society organisations and the general public to support the passage and implementation of the Consumer Protection Bill, stressing that a fair, transparent and accountable marketplace is essential for Ghana’s long-term economic growth.
She described the proposed law as more than a legislative reform, saying it represents a commitment to ensuring that every Ghanaian consumer is treated fairly, has access to effective redress mechanisms and can participate confidently in the country’s economy.
