Activities to mark World Consumer Day.

Accra (Greater Accra) 15 March '99

The Consumer Association of Ghana (CAG) on Sunday, called on the government, service providers and manufacturers to collaborate with to eliminate shoddy goods and services on the market. This is contained in a statement issued in Accra by the president of the association, Dr Ferdinand Tay, to mark the World Consumer Rights Day, which falls on Monday March 15. It said the day would make policy makers, manufacturers and services providers reflect on their role in providing value for money to the consumer. The theme for the celebration is "consumer Protection: Where do we stand?" It said in an era of economic liberalisation, consumerism remains the only way to protect consumers and to monitor the market to ensure that only quality goods and services are provided. The statement said CAG is worried about the situation where shoddy goods enter the Ghanaian market and service providers are not living up to expectation. It noted that the interest of consumers could be protected only with the enactment and enforcement of a more comprehensive consumer protection law. CAG therefore called on the Ministry of Trade, Ghana Standards Board and Public Utility Regulatory Commission to have more collaboration with consumer activists to ensure that the interest of consumers are taken into account when policies are being formulated.