Policy think tank CUTS International has urged government and Parliament to swiftly enact Ghana’s long-delayed Consumer Protection Law and Competition Law, warning that further delays leave millions vulnerable to exploitation and undermine investor confidence.
The call was made during the launch of Consumer Rights and Justice in Ghana: A Legal Compass, a new book by Francisca Kusi Appiah, Vice Dean of the UPSA Law Faculty, held on the eve of World Competition Day.
Speaking at the event on December 5, 2025, Director of CUTS International West Africa, Appiah Kusi Adomako, said Ghana’s repeated failure to pass the two laws has created a dangerous legal gap that leaves consumers exposed and markets without discipline.
“The country has waited long enough. The prolonged delay no longer serves the public interest. Consumers are unprotected. Markets operate without discipline,” he said.
Mr. Adomako explained that the absence of a unified consumer protection framework has led to widespread violations across key sectors. He cited findings from a recent CUTS study that documented price exploitation, misleading information, substandard goods, and weak redress systems affecting everyday life.
He outlined fundamental consumer rights — safety, information, choice, redress, and fair value — stressing that these must be enforced in practice.
“A mother buying food products should trust labels. A patient visiting a clinic should feel safe. A mobile money user should not beg for a reversal when systems fail. Rights must work in practice,” he said.
CUTS International also raised concerns about rising anti-competitive practices in Ghana due to the absence of a comprehensive competition law.
Mr. Adomako warned that price fixing, output restrictions, collusion, and abuse of dominance are becoming more common, with some trade associations coordinating prices instead of advocating.
“When associations set prices, competition dies. When dominant firms dictate terms, small businesses shrink,” he said.
He further noted that Ghana lacks a general law criminalising cartel behaviour outside the downstream petroleum sector, leaving harmful practices unchecked.
Mr. Adomako reminded policymakers that under the AfCFTA Protocol on Competition, Ghana is obligated to establish a functional enforcement regime.
“Ghana cannot be an effective player in the single African market without aligning with these standards,” he added.
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