Price of sachet water to increase from 20 pesewas to 40 pesewas in January
Ghanaians need to brace themselves as the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water have arrived at a decision to upwardly adjust the prices of sachet and bottled water.
These new prices are to take effect from Monday, January 27 2021 where sachet water, popularly known as “pure water” will now go for 40 pesewas, a 100 per cent increment from the current price of 20 pesewas while the 500ml bottle water will now cost GHS1.50, a 50% increment from the current price of one cedi.
Mr Magnus Nunoo, the President of the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers, cited that increasing cost of production including the cost of fuel, vehicle spare parts and imported packaging materials has necessitated the increment in their products.
“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 effect price increment have not been carried through.
An earlier statement issued by the association said there may be slight variations in the price across regions due to haulage costs.
“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 rising cost of inputs such as fuel, vehicle spare parts and packaging materials which are mainly imported. At 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 outcry 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 Association said in its statement.
By: Stella Annan | myactiveonline.com Twitter @activetvgh
