The President of the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP), Magnus Nunoo, has announced a significant price increase for sachet water, citing soaring packaging costs driven by a global polymer shortage.

Speaking on JoyNews' The Pulse on April 2, 2026, Mr Nunoo explained that the cost of packaging materials used by water producers has skyrocketed due to supply disruptions caused by the ongoing crisis in the Middle East.

“Suddenly they announced a 20% hike in the price of packaging materials… that is a big jump for our cost and we have to pass that on,” Mr Nunoo told the panel, warning that if supply issues persist, producers may face even greater challenges in keeping up production.

“It's all about the materials that we use. Our packaging materials… went up five billion, all attributing it to the crisis in the Middle East. Most major producers have very low stocks, and the ships are not coming,” he said.

The price adjustment, effective Monday, April 6, 2026, means a standard bag of 30 sachets will now cost GH¢8 at the factory, GH¢10 from delivery trucks, and up to GH¢15 at retail shops.

Mr Nunoo highlighted the scale of the increase, noting that packaging materials make up about 80% of the total cost for producers.

“For a major input like the packaging material to hit 20%… that is massive. If you joke with it, they can bring you down,” he said. He added that previous price adjustments had been marginal, and the last recommendation was made about four years ago.

The surge in costs is not limited to plastics. Local producers are also facing rising operational expenses, including a 15.92% increase in water tariffs and a 9.86% rise in electricity costs implemented earlier this year.

The announcement has sparked discussions on the sustainability of sachet water production in Ghana amid global supply chain disruptions and rising local utility costs. NASPAWAP stressed that these adjustments are necessary to ensure producers can continue providing safe drinking water to the public.