A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF CONSUMER PROTECTION LAWS WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF MOBILE MONEY TRANSACTIONS IN CAMEROON

Abstract

In today‘s digitally advanced era, mobile network operator (MNOs) hold a significant part in a mobile money payment systems mechanism. Although the legal framework regulating the mobile money services in Cameroon guarantees minimum protection to consumers, the degree of protection is insufficient. In this vein, we assume that the contract between MNO and consumers of mobile money services is of adhesion. That is, they are placed on an unequal scale in face of a weak regulatory system and therefore a wide range of customer’s rights are violated.  The main aim of this work is to investigate whether the legal and regulatory standards on consumer protection adequately protects consumer’s rights of mobile money services as well as examining some emerging challenges faced in Cameroon. The methodology employed in this article is purely doctrinal which is based on both primary and secondary data which enable us to discover that mobile money consumers in Cameroon are facing a wide range of problems which need to be redress. The paper concludes with some robust recommendations which if effectively implemented and enforced will go a long way to remedied these obstacles in the mobile money sector particularly in Cameroon and the world at large.