The Chartered Institute of Marketing Ghana (CIMG), according to its president Dr. Daniel Kasser Tee, is poised to take steps to promote the rights of consumers in the country.
Touching on the exact steps being considered to ensure consumer rights are respected, he explained that the institute will spearhead the conversation and further intensify the subject matter at hand.
“Going forward, the CIMG will lead the conversation and continue to amplify and champion the rights of consumers,” he said.
In ensuring that the rights of consumers are highly regarded at all levels, he called on central government and civil service entities to acknowledge and respect these rights.
Dr. Tee made this known during a panel discussion organised by his outfit to celebrate World Consumer Rights Day in Accra. It was on the theme ‘Empowering the consumer through clean energy transition’.
Beyond propagation of consumer rights, the institute intends to make known its importance with the aim of making a positive impact in the lives of consumers.
He emphasised the benefits institutions and producers stand to gain when the rights of consumers are respected: “By respecting and protecting these rights, businesses and institutions can build trust and credibility with consumers”.
He strongly believes that “the success of businesses depends on prioritising the needs and interests of their customers and engaging in ethical and responsible practices”.
Focusing on issues of consumer rights in the fast moving consumable goods (FMCG) space, Managing Director of Wilmar Africa, Kwame Wiafe, emphasised the lack of detailed information about products available to consumers.
He explained that consumers have the right to access information about products being purchased to make an informed choice, hence its absence deprives them of that right.
“With respect to the product, some of the challenges that tend to affect consumer rights include readability of the information provided. Every consumer needs to have detailed information about the product being purchased to get the right information at that time; yet due to low enforcement or other factors, there is no such thing. Oftentimes, when you pick up a product – especially the imported ones – the information is not legible,” he said.
Mr. Wiafe attributed the presence of challenges in the FMCG market to “weak strategic orientation of the country” – explaining that consumer rights protection works hand in hand with a country’s willingness to provide good and quality products to its citizenry; otherwise, it leads to the importation of substandard goods into the country.
He proposes two solutions to deal with the challenges aforementioned – passage of the consumer rights protection law and the need for state actors responsible for consumer protection to effectively use the legal framework at their disposal effectively to save consumers.
Sharing his concerns on delay of the bill, Dr. Tee said in absence of the law his outfit will continue leading the advocacy to demand the rights of consumers are respected as the Trade Ministry ensures that the bill is passed.
Meanwhile, the caretaker-Minister for Trade and Industries, Samuel Abu Jinapor, early this year indicated that processes are underway to ensure that Cabinet approves passage of the bill into law.
