Emmanuel Ayivor, Chairman of National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP), has hinted of an increment in the price of a bag of sachet water from March 1.
The increment, he noted, had been agreed upon at a stakeholders� meeting on February 19 this year in the wake of high cost of production and taxes.
He said excise duty tax, environmental tax, Environmental Protection Agency licence, as well as Food & Drugs Authority (FDA) registration had all been levied on producers, adding that consumers must brace themselves up for an increase in the price of the commodity.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the first-ever Ghana National Water Fair in Accra organized under the auspices of Nehyira Water Solutions on the theme: �The Impact of Safe Drinking Water Production in the Development of Ghana�, Mr. Ayivor stated �with effect from March 1, 2014, the price per bag of 30 pieces of sachet water of 500 ml shall be GH�2.00 while the price per chilled sachet will be GH0.15.�
According to the NASPAWAP National Chairman, retailers should have health certificates, dress neatly and carry a bag to collect the sachet waste.
However, Harold Clottey, a Deputy Director at the Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, called for the strict enforcement of laws governing the production of sachet water in the country.
He attributed the surge in water-borne diseases to the violation of laid down procedures by many businesses and entrepreneurs.
Mr. Clottey said that efforts should not be spared in flushing out substandard water producers.
��Though some of the water producers submit samples for analysis, there are many others who do not follow laid down procedures,� the MWRWH Deputy Director said, insisting that the methods employed by stakeholders in the production of water for consumption may partially be the cause of some water-borne diseases.
Mr. Clottey said, �I am therefore appealing to the relevant government agencies and the NASPAWAP to strictly enforce regulations to ensure that the bad nuts are flushed out of the system.�
Source: Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson
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