By Noah Owusu & Michael Boivi
Prices of bottled and purified drinking water otherwise known as pure water have seen an upward adjustment with effect from April 1, 2022
According to the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers, says has been necessitated by the rising cost of production and depreciation of the Cedi.
Consequently, sachet water, which was formerly sold at 30 pesewas is now going for 40 pesewas, with a 500ml bottled water, at GHC2, with the 750ml being transacted at GHC2.50 pesewas, while 1.5ml bottled water is being sold for GHC3.50.
A bag of the 500ml sachet water is selling at GHC6 from the truck, while a retail price will cost GHC8 from shops. The current increase comes less than three months after a when similar adjustment was made.
GBC News engaged some retailers and consumers on the upward review of prices.
Some Traders say they are unhappy with the price hikes because it is met with serious resistance from consumers. However, the traders say they have no option, because, they have to break even.
For consumers, they said they have no other choice, but to brace up for the new prices.
”Not long ago, I used to buy pure water for ghc3 and it was moved to ghc5 and now am hearing that is going to be 8cedis why this is too much.? she questioned.
”They are increasing the prices of everything even water, I’ve head it’s almost 40peswas or more beginning this Friday and the way things are going since they are increasing prices of everything the government should also take care of salaries of the workers so that if prices go up and they are also receiving enough salaries then they wouldn’t care about paying”, another noted.
”The more profits come down, we don’t get anything and moreover is scorching you will drink some. Some will also tell you they 20 or 30 pesewas. Others too if their money is not enough you give it to them like that, where things are going now we suffering too much”, another person noted.
”Recently it went up, customers were complaining here and there if someone come and buy water from you and you tell the person that its30 pesewas the person think you want profits, they complain bitterly, so now that they are going to increase it again its going to be a headache on us, people are complaining that their salaries are stagnant they don’t increase salaries and other products are being increased day in day out so we’re pleading to think about ordinary Ghanaians we are suffering we are really really suffering”,
”I have heard from Friday going, it will go to 40peswas because in the car they give to the woman who put it in the refrigerator 6ghc and they will give it to us 8ghc, then we will sell it for 40peswas. It reduces our profits and slows down the market. If the person is thirsty they don’t want to buy. They will increase the bottle water, the small one will be sold at 2ghc, medium size 2.50 pesewas, the big one 3.50peswas. All I will tell the government is if it can do something about it”, as citizens send out pleas over the price of sachet water.
