‘We need more consumer advocacy groups in Ghana – Energy Minister

The Minister for Energy, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has called for more consumer advocacy bodies to protect the rights and interests of consumers.

Dr Prempeh, who is also the Member of Parliament (MP) for Manhyia South, made the call when the Head of the Consumer Protection Agency (CPA), Mr Kofi Kapito, paid a courtesy call on him.

The minister noted that in the absence of vibrant consumer protection groups, intellectual arguments seemed lost, adding that in other countries, daily items such as food, clothing, drinks and services, among other things, were strongly protected by powerful advocacy.

That, he said, made it possible for consumers to know where to turn to when they were not satisfied by particular goods or services.

Affordable energy

Turning to the energy sector, Dr Prempeh noted that while industry was key for jobs, it was driven by affordable energy, among other factors, and it was, therefore, important to have a better structured tariff.

For his part, Mr Kapito said his agency had always argued for simple power tariffs as the best way to support and protect the consumer.

He, therefore, lauded the minister for his position and pledged to give the needed support to make it a reality.