The price of sachet water, popularly known as ‘pure water’, will be increased to ¢0.40 from today, December 27, 2021.

This is a 100 per cent increment in its former 20 pesewas price. Sellers across the country are expected to begin using the new price.

According to the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers, the increment has been necessitated by the rising cost of inputs and the rate of cedi depreciation.

A bag of water, which is currently retailed at GH¢4.50, is also expected to increase to GH¢6.00.

President of the Association, Magnus Nunoo, added in a press release that among other things, a 500ml bottled water, previously sold at GH¢1, will now be sold at GH¢1.50.

“It is recommended that the 500ml bottled water be retailed at ¢1.50, and the 750ml or medium size bottled water be retailed at ¢2.00. In addition, the 1.5L or large bottled water is to be retailed at ¢3.50,” parts of the statement read.

The Association added, “iced sachet water will be retailed at ¢0.40. A bag of sachet water, 500ml by 30 pieces, will now sell at ¢4.50 from the retail trucks. In addition, mini shops will now retail a bag of sachet at ¢6 per bag minimum.”

Members of the Association have been urged to review their prices accordingly to ensure uniformity across the country, stressing that in the past, producers bore part or all of these taxes to survive.

However, it is becoming increasingly unsustainable for the local water industry.

“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 prices consumers have to bear,” the Association added.

But some consumers who interacted with JoyNews have indicated that an upward review of the prices will make life harder than it already is.

“Even the ¢0.20 we are suffering to buy; we are still drinking water from our house – we can’t buy water at ¢0.40. ‘Pure water’ must be ¢0.20, not ¢0.40 because the country is so hard these days.”

“At least if there is going to be an increment, it should be ¢0.30 [and], not ¢0.40. The government should do something about it because things are getting out of hand,” some Ghanaians said.