The
Consumer Protection Consortium (CPC), a civil society watchdog out to protect
and promote consumerism and fight against corporate theft last week expressed
disquiet over Africell’s 4G saga saying the national regulator, PURA made
“unilateral decision” without consulting consumers.
Addressing
news men and women at YMC in Kanifing along MDI Road, Alpha O Jallow, CPC’s
President said: “the event is spurred by the current 4G bundle saga surrounding
AFRICEL. The CPC is cognisant of PURA’s resolve to safeguard consumer rights
and welfare relating to utilities and appreciates PURA’s directive for Africell
to “process mandatory “cash” refunds to all subscribers that subscribed to the
unlimited data package” from the 1st January 2020 up to February 11th 2020.
Alternatively, affected subscribers can also opt for e -refunds. These refunds
are to be done in full”. However, he
voiced CPC’s concern that PURA took a unilateral decision to institute the
remedial measures without due consultation and mutual agreement with the
affected parties, the consumers and consumer associations.
“Prior
to this recent Africell Saga, the CPC wrote initial communiqués and met with
Africell management to discuss pertinent issues raised by consumers regarding Africell’s placement of false and misleading
advertisements (using Bill Boards,
Radio, Television and Print Media) claiming that they have a nationwide 4G
coverage when actually that was not the case.”
“It was further disclosed by Mr. Ansumana Sanneh former Director General
of Gambia’s Public Utility Regulatory Authority (PURA) that “after
investigations PURA has discovered that there was no GSM operator with 4G
network and that only 3G and 2G networks were available, saying that is why
many parts of the country find it difficult in getting a reliable network
“He
specifically mentioned Africell and Qcell, adding that they had told Africell
to stop all activities suggesting that they have nationwide 4G coverage because
they do not have the international 4G standard,” Mr. Jallow told the media“Letters were copied
to PURA for notification and to solicit their intervention (in furtherance of
due process) to facilitate a meeting and dialogue to amicably resolve the issues raised during consumer parliaments and
specific ones highlighted in the CPC communiqués. The CPC did not receive any
response from either PURA nor the service providers.”Moving forward, CPC
President called on PURA to facilitate a consultative meeting of relevant
stakeholders, to address “corporate thievery” and explore possible areas of
collaboration to help safeguard the interests and rights of consumers in the
interest of public health, safety, quality, corporate ethics and the law.
CPC
has also identified potential areas of concern that would require the
collaboration of PURA to promote consumer rights education and help remedy
other unfair trade practices through: Sensitization of consumers on consumer
rights and responsibilities sensitization of service providers on corporate
social responsibility and Advocacy for adherence to the Consumer Protection Act
2014; Collaboration in the area of
capacity building, research, monitoring and sharing of relevant information
with consumers, service providers and other stakeholders as well as adoption
and promulgation of good policies and practices in line with the provisions of
the Consumer Protection Act
Meanwhile,
Momodou L Jaiteh, CPC Secretary General for his part says: “It has come to our
notice that Africell has been using its financial muscle to bully and
intimidate Gambian media by expressing to them – hey guys if you write or
broadcast against our company, we will not give you advertisement or money.
This is wrong and too much for us and it has to stop.” “Africell has attempted
to somewhat muzzle the press. This is not right and should be fought against.
CPC believes that all those who care about truth, human rights, fairplay will
surely join us in our crusade against wrong doing and market injustice,” Mr.
Jaiteh emphasized.