Minister of Industry and Trade, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor, MP, said the Government is rigorously working on comprehensive laws to deal with consumer protection in the State.
He said the new Consumer Protection Bill is ready, and will be submitted to the Cabinet for consideration and then to Parliament for tabling.
The Minister stated this while presenting a policy statement on Consumer Protection in Parliament on Wednesday, February 15, 2023, in anticipation of Consumer Rights Day which is celebrated on March 15 every year.
Emphasizing the importance of consumer protection, the Minister said that nowadays everyone depends on the goods and services provided by others, so it is necessary to protect the interests of consumers and ensure fair trade.
He said the current legal and regulatory framework to protect consumer rights is fragmented across different laws, with different bodies overseeing different aspects of consumer protection.
According to Mr. Jinapor, the current situation is not satisfactory, and causes an important part of the market to remain unregulated, resulting in the violation of consumer rights without adequate remedies.
He identified jurisdictional conflicts between the various regulators regarding consumer protection, lack of consumer awareness, lack of access to courts, and the absence of cheap, fast, and accessible forums and methods to resolve consumer complaints, as some of the challenges with consumer protection in the country .
Drawing from international best practices, the Minister said the world is at a stage where a single law on consumer protection, with a single consumer protection authority, is the norm.
He said that the main objective of the bill, which has been prepared for the Cabinet, is to protect, secure and defend the rights of consumers, through a structured institutional mechanism and legal framework, which will ensure that consumers play an important role in keeping businesses from doing wrong. check, promote competition, and ensure regional integration through digital trade and e-commerce.
When passed, the law will also create a Consumer Protection Authority to facilitate consumer redress, establish a code of practice on advertising and labeling, educate consumers about their rights, strengthen consumer-oriented organizations, and ensure effective representation of consumers in decision-making. body
The Minister asked Parliament to support the Bill when it is tabled in the House of Representatives to ensure effective and adequate protection for consumer rights.
Members of Parliament from both sides of the House of Representatives, who contributed to the Statement, commended the Minister for informing them of the progress of the Bill.
North Tongu Member of Parliament, Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa stressed the importance of the bill and expressed optimism that the entire House of Representatives will support the bill when it is presented to the House of Representatives.
Chairman of the DPR, Rt. Hon. Alban Bagbin also praised Mr. Jinapor and urged other Ministers to emulate him and constantly update the House on matters related to the ministry.
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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