Pass consumer rights bill now! – Kofi Kapito

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Consumer Protection Agency, Kofi Kapito has called on the government to pass the consumer rights bill to protect consumers in the country.

The call comes as Ghana Joins the world in celebrating the World Consumer Day, a day set aside to promote consumer rights activities and advocacy today, Friday, 15 March 2019.

“After 33 years since the United Nations General Assembly adopted a set of guidelines for consumer protection and the Secretary-General was authorised to persuade member countries to adopt these guidelines through policy changes and laws, Ghana is yet to pass the consumer rights/competitions bill that has been in parliament since 2007; lingering from cabinet and to the ministry of trade without any seal by the executive to present it to cabinet for onward processing that will make it into a law,” Mr Kapito said in a statement.

He noted that the rights of the consumer should be of utmost importance to the government, who holds the collective trust of its people.

Mr Kapito urged the regulators and all stakeholders to make sure that the interest of consumers are well protected.

According to him, the emergence of online sales outlets, mostly dealing in electrical and smart products have little or no policy in protecting the consumer against counterfeit brands. “Most of these online shops are also defrauding consumers, orders are never delivered though paid for by clients. The Ghanaian consumer is being exploited, without recourse to proper redress and compensation plan.”

He added that there is no warranty on 90 per cent of smart products on the Ghanaian market, whiles in other cases the popular discrimination tag "goods sold out are not returnable" is boldly displayed on receipts across the country.

“We take this opportunity to call on Ghanaians to rise-up and join the movement that seeks to compel the relevant authorities to pass the consumer rights bill into law without further delay,” he stated.

The day also commemorates a historic declaration by the former US President John F. Kennedy of four basic consumer rights:

• The right to safety

• The right to be informed

• The right to choose

• The right to be heard