CUTS urges govt to resist uniform pricing in sachet water market
Consumer policy think tank, CUTS International, has called on government to urgently address developments in the sachet water sector, cautioning against any attempt to impose uniform prices across the market.
Director of its West Africa Regional Centre, Appiah Kusi Adomako, urged the Ministry of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry and the Attorney General to engage the National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers to withdraw any directive that seeks to enforce standardised pricing.
His remarks follow NASPAWAP’s announcement of an increase in sachet water prices, scheduled to take effect on April 6, 2026, citing rising production costs and global supply constraints.
Mr Adomako acknowledged that government intervention may be necessary in certain situations, particularly to prevent anti-competitive practices such as collusion, but stressed that such actions must not stifle market competition.
He maintained that producers should retain the freedom to set prices based on their operational costs, noting that price differences are a normal feature of a competitive market and can benefit consumers.
“Consumers must benefit from competition. Some brands of sachet water can be sold for GHC 10, some for GHC 12. There is no point for the association to suggest prices at which members should retail their products,” he said.