UPSA Vice Dean launches first book on consumer rights
The first book that provides a comprehensive exploration of consumer protection laws and rights within the Ghanaian context has been launched in Accra.
Titled, “Consumer Rights and Justice in Ghana: A Legal Compass”, the 547-page book, which is the first Ghanaian textbook on the subject, was authored by the Vice Dean of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA) Law School, Dr Francisca Kusi-Appiah.
Currently, the country does not have a unified and comprehensive primary legislation dedicated to consumer rights and protection, but relies on fragmented subsidiary legislations such as the Consumer Protection Regulations Legislative Instrument (L.l. 2413) and Standards Authority Regulations L.l. 1816.
The book aims to address the legislative gaps in the country’s fragmented consumer protection framework, serving as a practical guide for various stakeholders, including consumers, businesses, regulators and legal practitioners.
Drawing on English common law principles and decisions from Ghanaian courts, the academic and practical literature offers readers localised insights aimed at addressing the unique challenges faced by Ghanaian consumers.
It covers essential areas such as food, pharmaceuticals, energy, housing, and telecommunications, with each chapter addressing specific consumer rights issues and the risks consumers face in these sectors.
Launch
The first copy of the book, which was launched in Accra last Thursday, was sold for GH¢30,000.
Present were both retired and active Justices of the Superior Court, including Justices Jones Victor Mawulorm Dotse (Retd), Mariama Owusu (Retd), Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Stephen Oppong,
Anthony Oppong, Justice Francis Kusi Appiah (Retd), Justice Eric Kyei-Baffour, faculty members of the UPSA Law School, legal practitioners, and a host of high-profile personalities.
The launch was chaired by Justice Prof. Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, a retired Supreme Court judge.
Justice Date-Bah commended the author for taking the time to critically examine the subject within the local setting.
He added that the pioneering book on consumer protection would help highlight the rights of consumers in the country, noting that a focus on these rights is crucial for any economy.
He recommended the book to all, saying it provides useful insights for lawyers and students in the formulation of their arguments on consumer advocacy.
Rationale
Reflecting on her journey as an educator, Dr Kusi-Appiah revealed that her father, Justice Kusi-Appiah, instilled in her the principle of budgeting, a concept many Ghanaian families must navigate in their everyday lives.
This personal anecdote, she said, highlighted the broader societal expectation for high-quality goods and services that were often unmet.
She said that protecting consumer rights was essential for fairness and justice, linking it to energy law, competition law and consumer protection.
She added that these fields share a common thread, which is the concept of power.
“Regulators must balance the enormous power of utility providers and monopolies with the rights of vulnerable consumers,” she said.
Dr Kusi-Appiah expressed her gratitude to her students, who inspired her to write a textbook addressing consumer protection law specific to Ghana.
In his review of the book, economist and legal practitioner, Mr Appiah Kusi Adomako, praised the book for offering an in-depth analysis of the consumer protection landscape in Ghana.
Covering various sectors — from food and pharmaceuticals to telecommunications, he said the book served as a vital resource not only for legal practitioners but also for businesses and regulators.
