Pure water will be sold at 40pesewas starting from Today, because fuel and other prices have risen

The National Executive Committee of the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASAWAP) has announced an increment in the prices of sachet water (popularly known as Pure Water) and bottled water in Ghana.

Pure Water (Sachet Water) to sell at 40 Pesewas from December 27 2021.

Beginning Monday, December 27, 2021,

• A sachet of water, popularly known as ‘pure water’ will be sold for 40 pesewas from the current 20 pesewas.

The association added that a bag of sachet water, 500ml × 30pcs, will now sell at GHC 4.50 from the retail trucks and thus, Mini shops will now retail a bag of sachet at GHC 6 per bag minimum.

• The 500ml bottled water will also be sold for GHS1.50 from the current GHS1.00.

• The 750ml or medium size iced bottled water should be sold at GHS2.00.

• It was also recommended that the 1.5L or large bottled water be sold at GHC 3.50.

“We are looking at the 0.5-litre bottle, that one will go to 1.5, and the medium size which is 750ml will now sell for GHS 2, and the sachet will go to 40 pesewas per iced sachet,” he said.

The price of sachet water has remained at 20 pesewas for more than six years. Previous statements from the association in 2016 and 2018 to the effect of a price increment has not been carried through.

“These reviews take effect from Monday, December 27, 2021” The Association stated.

An earlier statement issued by the association said there may be slight variations in the price across regions due to haulage costs.

The President of the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers, Magnus Nunoo, said the price change has been necessitated by the increasing cost of production including the cost of fuel, vehicle spare parts and imported packaging materials.

In a statement published by the association, it quoted that, “A bag of sachet water, 500ml by 30pcs, will now sell at GHC 4.50 from the retail trucks. Mini shops will now retail a bag of sachet at GHC 6 per bag minimum. These reviews take effect from Monday, December 27, 2021. The price reviews have been necessitated by the rising cost of inputs such as fuel, vehicle spare parts and packaging materials which are mainly imported. In our previous review, the Ghana Cedi to the dollar was in the region of GHC 4.50. Currently, it is inching up to GHC 6.50. Fuel prices have also significantly gone up since our last review.”

“Regrettably, fuel price reviews attract a lot of public outcries anytime the government imposes the slightest tax on it. However, the public turns a blind eye to taxes on bottled water, which account for the high price.”

“Consumers have to bear. In the past, producers bore part or all of these huge taxes just to survive, especially in the wake of imported bottled water most of which evade these taxes, but it is becoming increasingly unsustainable for the local water industry. It has become necessary that some of these indirect taxes, production, and distribution costs, be passed on to the consumer”.

The price reviews have been necessitated by the rising cost of inputs such as fuel, vehicle spare parts, and packaging materials which are mainly imported.

In our previous review, the Ghana cedi to the dollar was in the region of GHC 4.50.

Currently, it is inching up to GHC 6.50.

Fuel prices have also significantly gone up since our last review.

Regrettably, fuel price reviews attract a lot of public outcries any time the government imposes the slightest tax on it.

However, the public turns a blind eye to taxes on bottled water, which account for the high prices consumers have to bear.

The NEC of NASPAWAP wishes to call on the government to engage with all stakeholders to correct this anomaly by 15th January 2022, to help sustain the local water industry and reduce the cost of potable water to Ghanaians.