Lawyer Naana Quartey has called for the urgent passage of legislation to regulate direct selling in Ghana, arguing that it is a more effective solution to fraudulent activities than banning companies.
Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on April 13, 2025, Quartey, who also serves as Global Compliance Officer at QNET—a global lifestyle and wellness direct selling company—responded to growing public concerns over alleged scams linked to the direct selling industry, particularly QNET, in light of recent media reports involving the arrest of 44 Cameroonians.
She emphasized that many individuals perpetrating fraud are exploiting loopholes under the guise of direct selling.
“I have seen calls to ban the company, and that is an unfortunate suggestion because the company has nothing to do with these individuals. So, banning the company is not the solution.
“These people will simply reappear under another company’s name and continue the same activities.
“If we truly want to protect individuals on the streets, we should be calling for legislation to regulate direct selling. A lot of these perpetrators are hiding under the banner of direct selling to commit atrocious acts. If we want to eliminate these individuals, we need to legislate the direct selling space.”
QNET’s Regional General Manager, Biram Fall, also addressed the media, stating that the company had no involvement in the arrests and distancing QNET from any promises of employment or visa facilitation.
“We are not a job or travel agency,” he clarified, urging the public not to fall for scams misusing the company’s name.
According to Fall, QNET has taken action by supporting over 250 victims in reporting fraudulent cases and initiating more than 40 legal actions across Sub-Saharan Africa in 2024 alone.
The company says it has also been running public education campaigns to raise awareness about scams falsely linked to its name and business model.
However, the central message from the briefing was clear: stronger laws and regulations are needed to protect consumers and clean up the direct selling space in Ghana.