On Friday 15th March 2024, the National Consumer Protection Commission (NCPC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and CSOs operating in the Consumer space, joined the world to celebrate World Consumer Rights Day, which is observed annually.
Addressing the nation on behalf of the government, the Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Madam Fatmata Kargbo, reiterated her ministry’s commitment to seek the welfare of consumers across the country. She expressed the government’s determination to weed the country out of all bad trade practices that have affected the livelihoods of citizens, adding that the fight against unfair trade practices is everybody’s business and that people should join the government in addressing this situation.
She commended the NCPC for their commitment to the fight against unfair trade practices, adding that these practices affect the revenue generation of the government, as well as the livelihoods of citizens. She stressed that everyone is a consumer, including the President, as long as we buy goods and pay for services. She furthered that this is in line with the manifesto promises of President Bio to seek the welfare of citizens. She noted that consumers do not know their rights, and this day aims to raise awareness about Consumer Rights and admonished consumers to bring to the notice of the Ministry and the NCPC, violations of their rights. She stressed that consumers have the right to protection from fraudulent and unfair trade practices in the market.
On the theme of the celebration, which is ‘Fair and Responsible Artificial Intelligence for Consumers’, Madam Fatmata Kargbo explained what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is. Stressing that it is the development of technology that makes machines do the work of humans. While this system enhances work, yet there are downsides to its operations. Machines only give out what is inputted into them, and cannot think out of the box like humans. This system, while enhancing work, has its disadvantages. Thus, there is a need for developers of AI to review the technology, to ensure the protection of the rights of people. She recalled the four fundamental rights of consumers as outlined by the late American President, John F. Kennedy, which are: the right to safety, the right to be informed about the products for sale, the right to choose and the right to be heard. Minister Fatmata Kargbo assured Sierra Leoneans that the government will ensure that fair and responsible AI is maintained in the country. She then wished all a wonderful Consumer Rights Day.
Earlier, the Customer Relations Officer, Madam Bernadette Fullah, was on Radio Democracy in their Gud morning Salone program, where she succinctly articulated the NCPC’s zero-tolerance stance on unfair trade practices and urged consumers to make complaints on such practices to the Commission. This event was followed by a panel on SLBC, where she was joined by the Communications Officer of the NCPC, Samuel Pratt, heads of CSOs in the consumer space, Mr Ibrahim Kabia, Madam Susan Williams, Mr Sonny Rogers and Mohamed Kabba. The panel discussion was centred around the theme of the celebration: ‘fair and responsible AI for consumers’. Information about the role of the NCPC was disseminated and listeners were advised to report unfair trade practices to the Commission. Also, the various speakers elaborated on the importance of AI in enhancing work across the globe and the disadvantages, which included redundancy, accident risks to consumers in situations where the machines do not have the appropriate response to a risky situation, due to the absence of info to respond to such situations. Contrast was drawn to how humans could think and respond to such situations.
World Consumer Rights Day came about as a result of a speech delivered by the late President Kennedy to Congress on 15th March in 1962, where he highlighted four fundamental rights of consumers, which became the bedrock for the adoption by the United Nations Assembly in 1983. Since then, World Consumer Rights Day has been an annual celebration on that day. Early advocates of that day, Consumer International, had embraced various themes to commemorate the day, to raise awareness and sensitize consumers about their rights. This year’s theme was chosen to address the disadvantages of the new technology, AI, to get authorities across the globe to develop legislation to protect the interests of consumers.
The program was climaxed with information on how consumers could contact the Commission with their complaints, via phone at on+232-30- 080-527 or email: nationalconsumerprotectioncom@gmail.com
