Leading firms in the production of sachet water in Kumasi are defying public outcry to implement new price adjustments for the product, announced in February this year. The Association of Sachet Water Producers increased the price of a sachet of ‘pure water’ from five to ten pesewas, citing rising cost of production and distribution of the commodity. However, most producers in the Ashanti region were reluctant to comply with the new price regime and rather opted to sell at the old price. Voltic Ghana Limited, a major producer of sachet water, has now taken the step to sell at the new price of 10 pesewas per a sachet and a retail price of Gh¢1:50p per bag of 30 sachets. Gideon Dedzo, General Manager of the Voltic Sachet Plant in Kumasi, told Luv Biz Report the decision is to maintain the highest quality standard and ensure the company remains in business. “This time round we want the public to cooperate with us because we can’t give them bad water to drink. Likewise we also do not want them to give us something that will not profit us”, he said. Luv Biz Report checks indicate other firms will soon adjust prices upwards. Members of the producer association have also been discussing modalities for a smooth take off of the new price regime. Secretary to the Association, Kofi Antwi-Adjei says the group has had to first strategize on weeding out unscrupulous sachet water producers through the establishment of internal mechanisms to regulate the industry. The association has come out with a unique logo to assist consumers identify registered sachet water producers. 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. Mr. Antwi-Adjei said it is in the interest of consumers to support the price adjustment for continuous improvement in production. “We are basically producing under a loss but because we’d like to put on the market the quality standard water, we are still advising members that it is better to uphold the quality… so I can assure you and the general public that even as we’ve not been able to implement our new prices, the quality remains intact. “But what we are still pleading with the public is that anytime soon when our prices are reviewed upwards, they should welcome it so as to be able to defray some of the losses we have been making”, Mr. Antwi-Adjei urged. Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh/Luv Fm/Ghana