The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has voiced concerns over the prolonged delay in passing the Consumer Protection Bill, a legislation aimed at safeguarding the rights of Ghanaian consumers.

Speaking alongside representatives from CUTS International Accra and Imani Africa on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, Kofi Kapito, CEO of the CPA, expressed frustration at the nineteen-year wait for the bill, which remains in draft form at the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MOTI).

"We have lost count of how many press conferences we’ve held on this matter. For almost two decades, this document has gathered dust while consumer rights continue to be neglected,” he said.

Kapito compared the delayed bill to the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) Bill, which was developed and passed into law within the same year, 2005.

The NPA Act 691 has since been updated, but the Consumer Protection Bill remains in its original draft, lying at MOTI’s offices.

He lamented that despite many opportunities, MOTI has failed to move the bill forward.

According to him, the absence of the bill has had negative consequences for consumers, including abuse by businesses that sell substandard goods or refuse to accept liability for faulty products.

“34.5 million Ghanaians are affected by the lack of this law. We are all consumers, and this law should be a priority.

"We are not asking for favours. We are demanding what is right. It is the government's responsibility to protect its people, and the passage of the Consumer Protection Law is crucial in fulfilling that duty," he added.

He announced that the CPA, alongside other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), would not relent in its advocacy until the law is passed.

The CPA plans to petition the president, the Speaker of Parliament, and parliamentary leadership, as well as mobilise 1,000 consumers to picket outside the Ministry of Trade and Industry in protest.

AM/AE