The Association of Sachet Water Producers in the Ashanti region is establishing internal mechanisms to regulate the industry. The self-regulatory framework is to support the work of the Food and Drugs Board and the Ghana Standards Board to instill best practices to protect consumer safety. Secretary to the Association, Kofi Anwti Adjei has told Luv Fm that activities will include engagements with interest groups in water management to improve production and distribution of products. “We are trying to make sure that everybody produces under the required condition. Therefore we are also taking upon ourselves to visit various facilities and by so doing, we make sure things are put right”, he said. As a first step, the association has unveiled a logo to assist consumers identify registered sachet water producers. Mr. Antwi Adjei said the identification is to weed out unscrupulous producers from the system. Meanwhile, the association has reiterated its determination to enforce the new retail price of 10Gp per sachet and Gh¢1.50 for a bag of 30 sachets. Rising production and distribution costs have been cited as reasons for the upward price adjustment. Interim regional chairman, Freddie Akwasi Berfi noted it was crucial for the public to accept the new prices in order to sustain the industry and create jobs. “Many sachet water retailers depend solely on this industry. Some of them are professional ice water sellers, and their incomes have also stagnated for all these years in the face of rising costs in the economy. They stand to benefit immensely from these price increases. It is in the light of these that we implore all to accept our new prices in good faith,” he observed. Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana