Mixed reaction at the price hike of sachet water

Accra, 03. Dec, GNA-Sellers of sachet water sellers in the Central Business District (CBD) appeared to adhere to the directives by the Union of Sachet Water Producers (USWAP) for the one pesewa increment in the price of every sachet water.

A survey conducted by the GNA indicated that, the sachet water sellers, although not wearing the tags as announced sold a sachet of water for five pesewas.

In an interview with the GNA, Sadia Karim, a sachet water seller who expressed no knowledge about the decision of Union of Sachet Water Producers (USWAP) to provide them with tags said although, in accordance with the announcement she sold a sachet of water for five pesewas, she was however, compelled to still sell a sachet for four pesewas as some buyers were not aware of the increment.

Emmanuel Okyere, a fisherman said he would never agree with the price hike since sachet water sellers pay tax on the water that they sell and that an increment would be nothing but a calculated attempt by the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to rip where it did not sow. Speaking with the GNA on Monday, Mr. Ebo Botwey, Chairman of the Accra Plastic Waste Management Project said the price hike did not only come about due to the desire of stakeholders to help rid the city of Accra of plastic waste, but also due to the increment in the cost of production.

He said as from Monday, fixed containers would be mounted at vantage points by Gratis Foundation to ensure the collection of plastic waste.

"I appeal to all consumers of sachet water to do well to put the rubber in the bins."

Mr.Botwey said to let the public understand very well what the project was about, it had embarked on massive sensitisation programme, which included the dissemination of information by vans in CBD and a one-week sensitisation programme on air by the police after which offenders would be arrested and prosecuted.

He said so far about one thousands tags had been given to Agbobloshie and CMB branches of Sachet Water Sellers Associations for distribution to their members and hoped to supply the other associations soon.

"A tag will cost thirty thousand cedis and it will last for three months after which it is renewable," he added.

The chairman said a time would come when any sachet water seller without a tag would not be allowed to sell in any part of the city. He said as part of measures to root out producers who operate under unhygienic conditions from the sachet water industry, every producer would have to produce certificate from either the Food and Drugs Board or the Ghana Standards Board before he would be issued with a sticker for operations in the Central Business District.