For more than two decades, Ghanaian consumers have been promised a shield [Consumer Protection Law] against unfair market practices, yet that shield remains locked in a desk drawer.
The 2025 report by CUTS International, titled “The State of the Ghanaian Consumer Rights 2025”, reveals a frustrating history of legislative stagnation that has left consumers vulnerable for over 20 years.
This means Ghanaian consumers have generally been exposed to exploitation, abuse and disregard for their welfare.
The Timelines of Inactivity
According to the report cited by The High Street Journal, the journey toward protecting Ghanaian consumers has been a marathon with no finish line in sight. CUTS report reveal that the trajectory of delays is striking:
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2005: The National Trade Policy Implementation Plan was launched, aiming to establish a Consumer Protection Authority
2010: A draft consumer protection policy was finally approved by a Technical Committee
2015: Recommendations for a specific Consumer Protection Bill were developed based on that policy
2016: Proposals for the bill were submitted to the Attorney General’s Department
Today, in 2026, the report notes that the bill is still pending Cabinet approval and, most tellingly, has never even reached Parliament for deliberation.
Why the Delay Matters to You
Currently, consumer protection in Ghana is fragmented across many outdated laws, such as the Sale of Goods Act of 1962. Because there is no single, unified law, many service providers operate like “paper tigers,” knowing there is no centralized authority to hold them accountable
The CUTS report highlights that the missing Bill is supposed to give you specific, modern rights that currently don’t exist in a unified way, such as: The right to cancel or change a contract if you feel cheated, protection against misleading advertisements and “unconscionable” terms hidden in the fine print, a dedicated Consumer Protection Agency to handle your complaints quickly, so you don’t have to spend months chasing a refund from a bank or airline
The Cost of Silence
The report finds that this legislative limbo has created a culture where consumers simply cope with bad service because they don’t know where to go for help.
Whether it is the 81% of airline passengers who receive zero compensation for cancelled flights or the 57% of bank customers who don’t understand their fees, the lack of a law is costing Ghanaians money every single day.
A Moral Imperative
While the current administration pledged in its 2024 manifesto to finally pass the stalled bill, the CUTS report serves as a stark reminder that promises have been made and broken before.
The Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, noted in the report’s foreword that passing this bill is now a moral imperative.
As Appiah Kusi Adomako, Director of CUTS International Accra, emphasizes in the report, empowering consumers with a robust law is not just a matter of fairness; it is a strategic necessity for Ghana’s economic growth.
