Consumers get reprieve with the establishment of CPA

Consumers get reprieve
…with the establishment of CPA
By Stephen Odoi-Larbi & Charity Addo

Ghanaians would obviously heave a sigh of relief with the coming into being of Consumer Protection Agency (CPA). As a Non Governmental Agency (NGO), CPA has been established to fight and protect consumer rights in the country.
Speaking at the official launch of the organisation in Accra, vice President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama has lauded CPA for taking the initiative to protect the rights of consumers in the country.
He described the establishment of CPA as a step in the right direction since according to him it has created a platform for consumers to channel their complaints about goods and services.
The vice President recounted the days when consumers had to queue for goods and services irrespective of their standard, because there were only a few of the items on the market.
He thus noted that the era where there were shortages of goods and services on the market was over.
This, he said was evident in the fact that consumers now have the power to make choices from different alternatives.
“Today, the era of plenty has come. In an era of plenty, there is choice”, he noted.
Alhaji Aliu Mahama further noted that the conducive environment that exist in the country has created a fair competition among service providers, thereby availing consumers of a wide range of choices on what to buy and what not to buy.
As result, he emphasised that consumers get value for their money on what they buy.
He, however, advised CPA “not to judge but should be impartial and objective.”
Justice Ennin Yeboah, who chaired the occasion, noted that the establishment of CPA would compliment the work of the Food and Drugs Board (FDB), to ensure that the rights of consumers are always protected in the country.
He therefore called on the agency to raise awareness and to educate members of the public on their rights with respect to goods and services purchased.
On his part, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the CPA, Mr. Kofi Owusu-Hene, said the aim for the establishment of the organisation was to help protect the right of consumers.
“Service providers think they are doing consumers a favour but they are always depriving them of the rights” he stressed.
He added that the establishment of the organisation was not to infringe on the rights of service providers but to help them promote customer delight in the business environment.
That notwithstanding, he cautioned service providers to make the customer delight a key factor in their operations since it would help boost their profit.