Ghana is finally addressing gaps and consumer protection issues in its e-commerce space.
The government’s new Electronic Transactions Bill, 2025 aims to build and add legal protections around online consumers, forcing businesses to be more transparent, accountable, and traceable.
If passed, it will mark one of Ghana’s attempts to properly regulate its e-commerce market, where mobile money transactions exceeded 1.9 billion in 2024 and thousands of informal Instagram and WhatsApp sellers now power digital trade.
What the Bill Says
Under the proposed law, every online seller — from a fintech giant to a one-person Instagram boutique — will have to disclose their full identity, location, registration details, and return policies before a customer makes a purchase.
The era of “DM for price” might soon give way to clear, visible pricing and legally required transparency. Sellers must also guarantee that their payment systems are secure, and if a customer suffers financial loss through a security lapse, the business — not the consumer — bears the liability.
For the first time, consumers will have the legal right to cancel an online purchase within 14 days of receiving goods (or 7 days for services) and demand a full refund, no questions asked.
If an item is unavailable, sellers must refund within a week or risk having the contract declared void.
Privacy Meets the Digital Market
The Bill also deals wirg the unchecked flood of digital spam. Businesses will need explicit consent before sending promotional messages or marketing emails, and each message must include a simple unsubscribe option.
Violators could face fines up to 5,000 penalty units — roughly 60,000 Ghanaian cedis — or even ten years in prison for repeat offenses.
Financial institutions are explicitly barred from selling or sharing lists of electronic payment users without written consent, an attempt to stem the trade in consumer data that often fuels telemarketing scams and phishing attacks.
The Informal Seller Market Could Take A Hit
While the law’s consumer protections would be a big win for consumers, small business owners — especially informal online sellers — could face compliance hurdles.
In a Ghana Statistical Service report, Ghana’s informal market currently makes up 80% of the workforce.
The new bill could push unregistered sellers, who sell their products and services on Instagram and WhatsApp, out of business or drive them deeper underground.
A Shift Toward Accountability
The new bill is reminiscent of the European Union’s consumer and data protection frameworks, which focus on giving buyers more of a sense of security.
The National Information Technology Agency (NITA) will serve as the digital watchdog, empowered to license online payment platforms, monitor compliance, and even sanction violators.
If implemented well, the law could reset how Ghanaians experience online commerce — where trust has long been fragile, and where a good deal sometimes comes at the price of personal risk.
For the average Ghanaian shopper, it means fewer surprises, safer payments, and a digital marketplace that finally puts “the customer first” in more than name.
But more consideration might need to focus on Ghana’s informal sellers, who may be faced with new restrictions and compliance issues.
This article was edited with AI and reviewed by human editors
