1. The Role of Consumer Associations
By Jean Lukaz,
GSB-PTB Conference; June 17 2008

2. June 2008
Ghana Standards Board (GSB) – Physikalisch
Teknische Bundesanstalt (PTB) Conference,
Accra
Facilitator: Jean Lukaz
Topic: ‘Competence and Technology for Safer Food
and Increased Agricultural Exports’, -‘Role of
Consumer Associations’
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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3. Our Focus
Consumer Participation in Standardization
Consumer Education
Comparative Shopping
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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4. Consumer Info & Advocacy
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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5. Partners
MOTI PSD PSI
GSB
Other Regulatory Bodies
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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6. Consumer Associations as Agents of Vigilance &
Promotion of Consumer Rights
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The Right to Basic needs
The Right to Safety
The Right to Information
The Right to Choice
The Right to Representation
The Right to Redress
The Right to Consumer Education
The Right to Healthy Environment
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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7. Global Consumer Movement
Against
Biotechnology: GM Food
Junk Food: especially to Children-‘Junk Kids’
UNFair Trade
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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8. Anybody here who
has never had any
foodborne
illness???
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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9. Food Safety
Critical to Consumer Health & Safety
Food Chain: Difficulty in Tracing from the Farm to the
Table
 Ingredients from different Countries
 Pesticide Residues
Global Hypocrisy
Corporate Agenda: Unethical Business Practices
HACCP of Ethnic and Local Foods: Limited in Ghana
Unhealthy population>>> Children & Elderly>>>
Unhealthy Nation
 Impacts on Tourism and Economy
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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10. Issues
From Food Technology to Food Safety
Nuclear Food
 Irradiation as a ‘substitute’ for Sanitary Practices
 GM Technology
 Calibration of Testing Equipment
 Availability of Testing Facilities
 Cost of Testing
 Appropriate Equipment
 Obsolete Equipment
 Dumping
 Technology Misuse
 ‘Truth in Labelling’

The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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11. Killing us Softly with Exports
Good Food Exported : Destination Standards
Bad Food Sold within:
Fruits
Vegetables
Fish
Food Shortage vs Agricultural Exports
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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12. Appropriate Food Technology vs
Advanced Technology
Reach
Cost
Attitude
Effectiveness
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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13. Information!
Information!!
Information!!!
...Consumer Education...
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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14. The Consumer Movement &
Consumer Education in Ghana
The ‘burnt out flame’ syndrome
Funding
Partnerships
Reach
Vigilance
Media misuse
Consumer fatigue
Media Hypocrisy
Consumer Participation in Standardization
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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15. The Challenges
Patronising Consumers
Getting Consumers to Speak for themselves
Oversimplifying Consumer Protection
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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16. The Way Forward
Some Consumer Associations need Education
themselves !!!
Consumer Education in School Curriculum
Consumer Education as a Priority in Civic Education
Enacting a Consumer Protection Policy
Passing Consumer Protection Laws
Consumer Redress Mechanisms
A federation of Consumer Associations...
A ‘Food Safety Coalition’
A Food Safety Act!!!
 Food & Drugs Law inadequate
The Consumer Partnership (The COP)
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