ICEDEG Africa advocates passage of Ghana’s Consumer Protection Bill

Policy think tank, the IUSTUM Center for Democracy and Governance (ICEDEG Africa), has called for the passage of Ghana's Consumer Protection Bill, arguing that a comprehensive consumer protection law is essential to strengthen consumer confidence, build trust, and facilitate trade.

According to ICEDEG Africa, Ghana's continued reliance on fragmented and archaic laws weakens consumer confidence and fails to provide adequate protection for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), particularly women-owned businesses.

Speaking during a panel discussion at the Breaking Barriers to Trade and Leadership Summit, held at the Lancaster Hotel in Accra on Tuesday, August 4, 2026, the Advisory Council Chairman of ICEDEG Africa, Nana Kwasi Asuman-Frimpong, said Ghana's dependence on common law principles of contract and tort, together with existing public institutions for consumer rights enforcement, does little to inspire confidence among consumers and small businesses.

Threat to Small Businesses
He explained that, in the absence of a dedicated Consumer Protection Act, a small business owner who purchases raw materials from a large supplier must rely on the general principles of contract and tort law.

According to him, such legal processes often place smaller businesses, many of which are sole proprietorships, at a disadvantage when dealing with large multinational suppliers.

Mr. Asuman-Frimpong further argued that while the term "consumer" is traditionally associated with individuals, Ghana has the opportunity to define the concept more broadly to include small businesses and sole proprietorships, enabling them to benefit from statutory consumer protection.

Delay
He also lamented the prolonged delay in passing the Consumer Protection Bill, which has remained before Parliament in various forms since 2014. He noted that the absence of a comprehensive consumer protection law, similar to those operating in jurisdictions such as the United Kingdom, the European Union, and South Africa, remains a significant barrier to trade and an impediment to the growth of women-owned businesses.

Summit
The Breaking Barriers to Trade and Leadership Summit was jointly organised by the African Leadership Organisation, led by Dr. Ken Giami, and The Global Influence Club. The event was co-hosted by Baroness Sandip Verma of the UK House of Lords and Dr. Ken Giami.

The summit followed an earlier session held in Abuja, Nigeria, and brought together heads of state, trade policymakers, business leaders, and development partners to discuss practical solutions for expanding intra-African and international trade by addressing key operational and policy barriers.