Policy think tank CUTS International has called on the government and Parliament to urgently pass Ghana’s long-overdue Consumer Protection Law and Competition Law, warning that continued delays expose millions of citizens to exploitation and weaken investor confidence.
The appeal was made at the launch of Consumer Rights and Justice in Ghana: A Legal Compass, a new book authored by Francisca Kusi Appiah, Vice Dean of the UPSA Law Faculty, 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 failure to enact the two laws after years of promises has created a dangerous legal vacuum that leaves consumers unprotected and markets undisciplined.
“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 noted that the absence of a unified consumer protection framework has resulted in widespread rights violations across essential sectors. He cited findings from a recent CUTS study documenting price exploitation, misleading information, substandard goods, and weak redress systems affecting daily life.
He outlined key consumer rights that are routinely undermined — including the right to safety, information, choice, redress, and fair value — stressing that these must work 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 alarm over growing anti-competitive conduct in Ghana’s markets due to the absence of a comprehensive competition law.
Mr. Adomako warned that price fixing, output control, collusive arrangements, and abuse of dominance have become more frequent, with some trade associations coordinating prices rather than advocating.
“When associations set prices, competition dies. When dominant firms dictate terms, small businesses shrink,” he said.
He further highlighted that Ghana has no 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 required to establish a functional competition enforcement regime.
“Ghana cannot be an effective player in the single African market without aligning with these standards,” he added.
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