Editorial: Retailers Resisting Removal Of Water Tax?

A few weeks ago, just before Parliament went on recess, the House passed a tax (Act 787) on water products. Initially, it was thought the increase would also affect sachet water but the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning has come out to say the tax would not affect sachet water. Even as the Ministry was denying tax on sachet water and is asking all retailers not to increase the price of the product, some retailers, who rushed to increase their prices, are reluctant to reduce their price to the old levels. The Sachet water manufacturers have also added their voice to that of the Ministry of Finance asking retailers not increase the price of the product but reports reaching us from Suhum and its environs have it that retailers in that part of the country are adamant and do not want to fall back to the old price. It is this attitude of the Ghanaian that is disturbing, unyielding to laws of the country even when they know they were in the wrong. Water, is about one of the important things to the human body and as such it was necessary that it was made available to all, irrespective of whether the individual can buy it or not. It was for this reason that even the World Bank representative in Ghana came out to criticize the tax and called for it abolish. We on �The Ghana Palaver� are aware of the problem plastics pose for the country, the answer to solving problem was not the increase in the price of sachet water. The solution of the plastic waste lie in the education of members of the public on the proper disposal of plastic waste and adhering to bye-laws of the city authorities. As a country we have very nice laws but because the people do not obey them, at look at the environment seem there were no laws to deal with disobedient citizens. We have no excuse but start dealing with the problems of plastic waste as soon as possible if we were to make any head way. The menace has come to stay and we have no alternative but solve it. Even though it will cost us money, we should not for lack of money make it impossible for the poor among us to find it difficult to have access to water. The Sachet Water Manufacturers must insist on the old price as directed by the government and ensure that their members comply because as our elders said, there is no substitute for water and it must be made available to all.