A member of Parliament in South Sudan has urged the August House to formulate a law to protect consumers from market exploitation.
Stephen Lual Ngor, who represents Aweil East of Northern Bahr El Ghazel State under the South Sudan Opposition Alliance (SSOA), wants the assembly to formulate a Consumer Protection Act to prevent businesses from exploiting consumers.
He raised the issue on Monday in the Transitional National Legislative Assembly, saying it’s shocking to see traders charging different prices for the same item.
Ngor explained that the law will cushion consumers from rogue businesses who take advantage of harsh economic times.
He said the primary objective of the Consumer Protection Act will be establishing consumer rights and providing free, effective and efficient enforcement of those rights, mainly through the establishment of the National Consumer Commission.
“I went to the market and found out that prices of commodities are not the same, and this is mainly because of what we all know. However, I have information about the solution to this problem. One of the ways to address the issue of market prices is by enacting a Consumer Protection Act,” Ngor said.
The lawmaker’s call comes at a time when South Sudan is experiencing a harsh economic crisis with the local currency fast depreciating against the United States Dollar.
Ngor said the law can also help regulate prices, especially for locally produced and imported goods.
“Again, I propose that a law should determine the prices of imported and goods produced within. I am saying this because when you go to Konyokonyo market now or any other shop in the residential areas, you’ll find that their prices are not the same, and this came as a result of lack of laws,” he said.
For her part, Speaker Jemma Nunu Kumba advised the lawmaker to formally communicate his idea in a motion before it is tabled in the house.