In a scathing indictment of the nation’s legislative course of, shopper advocates yesterday accused the federal government of leaving 34.5 million Ghanaians weak to unfair enterprise practices on account of a 19-year delay in passing essential shopper safety laws.
Talking at a press convention in Accra, Mr. Koffi Kapito, CEO of the Shopper Safety Company (CPA), lambasted the Ministry of Commerce and Business (MOTI) for permitting the draft Shopper Safety Invoice to “collect mud” since 2005.
“For practically 20 years, each Ghanaian shopper has been left on the mercy of unscrupulous companies,” Mr. Kapito declared.
“This isn’t only a failure of governance; it’s a betrayal of the basic rights of our residents,” he added.
The extended delay has raised eyebrows amongst coverage analysts and economists, who warn that the absence of complete shopper safety legal guidelines may have far-reaching implications for the economic system.
Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African Regional Director of CUTS Worldwide (Shopper Unity & Belief Society instructed the B&FT: “With out sturdy shopper safety, we danger undermining shopper confidence, a key driver of financial progress.
This regulatory vacuum may additionally deter international funding, as Ghana could also be perceived as having an unpredictable or unfair market.”
The Shopper Safety Invoice, initially drafted in 2005 throughout President Kufour’s administration, has languished in bureaucratic limbo regardless of repeated guarantees from successive governments to prioritize its passage.
In a stark illustration of the invoice’s stagnation, Kapito identified that the Nationwide Petroleum Authority (NPA) Invoice, which started the legislative course of concurrently in 2005, was handed into regulation that very same 12 months. The NPA has since operated beneath this framework and is now looking for to replace its laws.
“How can we clarify to the Ghanaian folks that whereas one sector has had practically 20 years of regulatory readability, the essential rights of each shopper stay unprotected? “he questioned.
The press convention highlighted a number of real-world penalties of the legislative vacuum. Instances of contaminated meals merchandise, defective items with no recourse for patrons, and damages from utility firm negligence had been cited as on a regular basis realities for Ghanaian customers.
Political guarantees to deal with the difficulty have come and gone. The New Patriotic Get together (NPP), in its 2016 election manifesto, pledged to “facilitate the passage of a Shopper Safety Legislation.” But, practically eight years into their administration, the invoice stays stalled.
While the Nationwide Democratic Congress (NDC) has now included the passage of the Shopper Safety Act in its 2024 manifesto, Mr. Kapito, on account of earlier cases, was uncertain if it will come to fruition.
“We’ve got seen it captured earlier than. How are we positive it’s not a political gimmick?” he quizzed.
The CPA’s frustration with the dearth of progress was palpable. Mr. Kapito introduced plans to escalate their advocacy efforts, together with a petition to the President and Parliament management, and the group of protests on the Ministry of Commerce and Business.
“We’ll mobilize one thousand Ghanaian customers to picket on the premises of the Ministry till we see concrete motion,” Mr. Kapito declared.
The extended delay has additionally fueled hypothesis concerning the affect of enterprise pursuits on the legislative course of. Ghana has seen a proliferation of trade chambers and associations in recent times, main some to query whether or not these teams are lobbying in opposition to shopper safety measures.
“Folks of the identical commerce seldom meet collectively, however the dialog ends in a conspiracy in opposition to the general public, or in some contrivance to lift costs,” Mr. Kapito mentioned, hinting on the potential for enterprise pursuits to prioritize income over shopper welfare.
The federal government’s obvious inaction on shopper safety stands in stark distinction to its swift response to worldwide pressures. Kapito famous that payments tied to IMF conditionalities, such because the not too long ago handed Affirmative Motion Act, transfer by Parliament with outstanding velocity.
“Do we’d like an IMF or a international nation to inform our authorities that the Shopper Safety Invoice is sweet to guard Ghanaians from illegal and unfair enterprise conduct?” the CPA’s govt requested rhetorically.
As stress mounts, the CPA has referred to as on the Minister of Commerce, Ok.T. Hammond, to introduce the invoice to Parliament when it reconvenes in October, hoping to avert the necessity for mass demonstration.
Addressing issues that with elections on the horizon, the eye of stakeholders, significantly legislators, could be elsewhere, Mr. Kapito argued that their actions on the matter would point out if that they had real regard for his or her constituents.
“This may present us if they really care about those that they beg and typically must bribe to vote for them,” he famous.