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The Consumer Protection Act, 2020, aims to safeguard and advance consumer interests through the establishment of the National Consumer Protection Commission and other relevant measures. Key points include:
Scope and Definitions: The Act applies to goods and services provided in trade or commerce within Sierra Leone. It defines various terms crucial to understanding consumer rights and responsibilities, including “consumer,” “supplier,” and “unfair supplier conduct.”
Establishment of the Commission: The Act creates the National Consumer Protection Commission of Sierra Leone as a corporate body with perpetual succession. The Commission is empowered to take legal actions, acquire property, and perform necessary functions to carry out its mandate.
Composition of the Commission: The Commission comprises appointed members, including a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman, and representatives from relevant bodies such as the Ministry and the Bar Association. Appointments are made by the President based on the Minister’s recommendation and Parliament’s approval.
Functions and Powers: The Commission is tasked with various responsibilities, including adjudicating consumer disputes, conducting investigations, and promoting consumer education and awareness. It is empowered to issue substantiation notices and take actions against unfair supplier conduct.
Adjudication and Enforcement: The Act establishes mechanisms for resolving disputes between consumers, service providers, and suppliers, including the appointment of adjudicators and the enforcement of decisions.
Regulatory Framework: The Act provides a regulatory framework to address issues such as credit contracts, auction sales, and pyramid schemes, ensuring that consumers are protected from unfair practices in the market.
Overall, the Consumer Protection Act, 2020, seeks to create a robust legal framework to promote fair and transparent interactions between consumers and suppliers, ultimately enhancing consumer confidence and welfare in Sierra Leone.
The Supplementary Appropriation Act, 2020, revises and provides additional funds for the services of Sierra Leone for the year 2020. Key points include:
Purpose of the Act: The Act addresses the need for additional expenditure beyond what was initially provided for in the Appropriation Act, 2019. It authorizes a further sum of one trillion six hundred and sixty-seven billion six hundred and forty-one million eight hundred and ninety-two thousand Leones from the Consolidated Fund for the year 2020.
Legal Basis: The Act is enacted in accordance with constitutional provisions and financial management regulations, which require supplementary estimates to be laid before Parliament and appropriated through a Supplementary Appropriation Act when the initially allocated funds are insufficient.
Allocation of Funds: The Act specifies that the authorized sum is granted to the President for the period of July to December 2020 and outlines the services for which these funds are intended, as detailed in the First Schedule.
Charging of Funds: The Act declares that the allocated sum is charged upon and payable from the Consolidated Fund for the specified period, with payments authorized by the Minister of Finance.
Implementation: The Act empowers the Accountant General to make payments from the Consolidated Fund, upon the Minister of Finance’s warrant, to cover the excess expenditure as specified in the First Schedule.
Overall, the Act aims to ensure that necessary funds are available to meet the financial requirements for the specified period in 2020, addressing unforeseen needs and ensuring effective financial management.
The Public Order (Amendment) Act, 2020, makes significant changes to the Public Order Act of 1965 by repealing Part V, which pertains to defamatory and seditious libel. Key points of the amendment include:
Repeal of Defamatory and Seditious Libel: Part V of the Public Order Act, 1965, dealing with defamatory and seditious libel, is completely repealed by this amendment.
Renumbering of Sections: The amendment also involves renumbering certain sections of the Public Order Act, 1965, for organizational purposes:
Part VI, originally titled “PUBLIC EMERGENCY,” is renumbered as Part V.
Part VII, initially labeled “POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE POLICE,” is renumbered as Part VI.
Sections 38 to 46 are renumbered as 26 to 37 accordingly.
Overall, the Act streamlines and updates the Public Order Act by removing provisions related to defamatory and seditious libel and reorganizing certain sections for clarity and coherence.