Consumer protection is a critical conversation that requires collaborative effort among stakeholders on the continent and globally. Consumer protection laws are designed to protect the consumer from harm as it impacts on public health and safety as well as national security.
To facilitate a bigger conversation around Consumer Protection Law, AGA-Africa collaborated with the Department of Mercantile Law, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, on an interactive workshop which was held during the ‘5th Bi-Annual University of Pretoria International Consumer Protection Law Conference’. The interactive workshop was held on 15th September 2022.
The interactive workshop brought together participants from Academia, Lawyers, Government institutions, Government agencies, Government regulators, Legal professionals as well as regional and international subject matter experts from South Africa, Ghana, Kenya, India, Europe, United Kingdom and the United States.
In attendance were General Holly Shikada, Attorney General of the State of Hawaii and Christopher Leong, Deputy Attorney General of the State of Hawaii.
The workshop was officially opened by Prof. Jacolien Barnard, Professor, Department Mercantile Law, Faculty of Law at the University of Pretoria. Opening remarks were made by Holly Shikada, Attorney General of the State of Hawaii, Prof. Phumudzo Munyai, Head of Department of Mercantile Law, University of Pretoria and Markus Green, AGA-Africa Board Member.
The highly interactive workshop was moderated by Prof. Jacolien Barnard, Professor, Department Mercantile Law, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria and facilitated by John Ukegbu, Senior Staff Attorney, New Jersey Legal Service, Michael Lamont, Senior Associate Attorney, Adams & Adams Attorneys, Ira Rheingold, Executive Director, National Association of Consumer Advocates, Prof. Kari Kammel, Director, Anti-Counterfeit and Product Protection Center, Michigan State University, Alison Magrath, Managing Executive, Credit Bureau Association of South Africa, Godfrey Budeli, Partner & Trade Mark Attorney, Adams & Adams Attorneys, Dr. Robi Mbugua Njoroge, Executive Director, Anti-Counterfeit Authority of Kenya, Anthony Idigbe SAN, Senior Partner, PUNUKA Attorneys & Solicitors, Prof. Corlia Van Heerden, Professor, Department Mercantile Law, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria and Prof. Sylvia Papadopoulos, Acting Director, Centre for Intellectual Property Law, University of Pretoria.
Prof. Sylvia Papadopoulos gave closing remarks, thanking all the participants for attending virtually and in person. The workshop was officially closed by Kim Robinson, AGA-Africa Country Coordinator for South Africa.
