Growing public concern about delayed passage of consumer protection bill into law

kofi-kapitoThere is growing public concern about the delayed passage of the Consumer Protection Bill into law.

Ghanaian consumers are unhappy the situation compromises their right to safety and choice.

The fear is compounded by the apathetic attitude of goods and service providers to consumer complaints about the safety and quality of their products, especially, outside the point of delivery.

Part of the yet- to- be- passed consumer law will allow consumers to take up their complaints with providers.

Poor and shoddy services, bad quality products, illegal and fake labeling unmet delivery deadlines as well contract breaches up are just but a few problems perennially facing consumers.

Unlike in countries like South Africa, where consumer rights are guaranteed and allow people to seek redress, consumers in Ghana are taken for granted, almost at the mercy of providers.

On the street of Kumasi, assorted products are sold to innocent and unsuspecting members of the public who cannot trace the origin of things they buy.

The struggle to return these bad products occasionally result to misunderstanding between business operators and their supposed customers or clients.

This is one of the several reasons the Consumer Protection Agency wants the Consumer Law without delay, but unfortunately Ghana’s Parliament keeps deferring the process.

Even before the bill is passed there are concerns about enforcement.

Chief Executive Officer of Consumer Protection Agency, Kofi Kapito, is however optimistic of its effectiveness.

Until then, the question many Ghanaians will continue asking is what could be the reason for the delayed passage the law.

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1 Comment

  1. I believe good consumer protection is critically important. It certainly exists in my country of origin and there faulty goods are received back by most retailers without question and replacements or refunds made. However I believe manufacturers need to offer better warranties as well otherwise the retailer will have to carry the responsibility every time. This would be unfair considering it is widely known that Africa is a dumping ground for second rate goods from China and elsewhere.

    Recently I compared the quality of wire in an electric lead I brought from my home country and one from china purchased here. The Chinese one was probably a quarter the thickness of mine. Here plugs, electrical connections and power boards blow out within weeks of buying them if not sooner. I have a Chinese made power board brought from home and it has lasted here for two years without any sign of problems.

    The Chinese need to start providing quality goods to Africans. Why should Africans get anything less than what Europe or the USA gets from China.

    May I suggest that Ghana pass good consumer protection laws but also suggest that laws need to be passed that force countries like China to supply better made products at least equal to what is supplied to Europe and the USA.

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