The Consumer Protection Agency (CPA) has called on the President and Parliament to pass Ghana’s long-awaited Consumer Protection Bill before the end of 2026, lamenting that the country still lacks a comprehensive consumer protection law 20 years after the bill was drafted.
In an official press release issued on October 23, 2026, to mark its 20th anniversary, the agency described the absence of a dedicated consumer protection law as Ghana’s biggest setback in protecting consumers from unfair practices, substandard goods and poor services.
The CPA, founded and funded by Mr Kofi Kapito in 2006, said the lack of a comprehensive legal framework continues to expose consumers to negative purchasing experiences, particularly in e-commerce, while allowing Ghana to remain a dumping ground for inferior products.
According to the agency, the Consumer Protection Bill, first drafted in 2006, remains at the Ministry of Trade and Industry despite years of advocacy, petitions, national forums and stakeholder engagements aimed at securing its passage.
#CPA Marks 20 Years of Consumer Advocacy
Launched by the late Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the CPA said it became the first non-governmental organisation in Ghana to provide consumers with a platform to channel complaints about goods and services purchased with their hard-earned money.
Over the past two decades, the agency has undertaken several initiatives to promote consumer rights and hold service providers accountable.
Among its notable interventions are campaigns against poor telecommunications services, including calls for sanctions against underperforming telecom operators and the use of fines imposed on them to fund consumer education.
The agency also led the first-ever Ghana Off Phone Day protests against telecommunications companies over poor service delivery.
In the retail sector, the CPA campaigned against the use of “olonka” and other unapproved measuring containers in markets, advocating the adoption of certified weighing scales to protect consumers against unfair measurements.
The agency has also collaborated with regulatory institutions, including the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) and Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), on initiatives aimed at improving product safety and consumer welfare.
CPA Highlights Fight Against Unsafe Products
The agency cited recent interventions against fake and unregistered baby diapers as one of its significant consumer protection efforts.
According to the CPA, more than four million pieces of fake baby diapers have been removed from the Ghanaian market through enforcement activities.
It also highlighted its involvement in efforts to address consumer complaints about sanitary towels, noting that the re-testing of registered products confirmed that they were safe for use.
The CPA further listed its advocacy for reductions in electricity tariffs among its contributions to consumer welfare over the past 20 years.
Consumer Arbitration and Mediation Centre Established
The agency identified its role in making consumer protection a national issue as its biggest achievement.
It noted that media organisations and other institutions increasingly turn to the CPA for assistance in resolving consumer-related complaints.
The agency has also established what it describes as Ghana’s first Consumer Arbitration and Mediation Centre, an alternative dispute resolution platform designed to settle consumer disputes without lengthy court proceedings.
According to the CPA, disputes referred to the centre can be resolved within one month, offering consumers a potentially faster and more accessible route to redress.
Meanwhile, the agency said it was collaborating with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders to develop a policy to address the influx of fake and unregistered products into the country.
It warned that such products pose serious health and financial risks to consumers while threatening the survival of locally manufactured industries.
Calls for Stronger Consumer Protection Framework
As it marks two decades of advocacy, the CPA has outlined four key demands it believes are necessary to strengthen consumer protection in Ghana.
First, it is urging the President and Parliament to ensure the passage of the Consumer Protection Bill before the end of 2026.
Second, the agency is calling for the establishment of a well-funded Consumer Protection Authority capable of effectively enforcing consumer rights and holding businesses accountable.
Third, it wants standardised measuring scales adopted across all markets to prevent unfair trading practices.
Finally, the CPA is advocating a clear policy framework to tackle the importation and circulation of fake, unregistered and substandard goods, which it says threaten public health and undermine locally manufactured products.
The agency also expressed concern about the funding of its activities, stating that its operations over the years have relied on the resourcefulness of its chief executive officer and support from benevolent institutions.
It commended the individuals and institutions that have supported its work throughout its 20-year journey.