The National Association of Sachet and Packaged water producer (NASPAWAP) will like add it’s voice to the numerous associations and interest groups, calling on government to suspended indefinitely, the imposition of 5% Excise tax on finished plastics.
This call has been necessitated by the hardship this may bring to the final consumer. Water is life and in most countries packaged water in whatever form is exempt from all forms of taxes.
According to a GSS report released in 2023, 72% of urban populations depend on sachet water.
The percentage in non urban population could even be higher due the extensive pollution of our water bodies due to galamsey operations.
It is therefore unthinkable that Excise tax of 5% is been imposed on finished plastic which could inevitably affect the retail prices of Sachet and bottled water.
Since January 2024 prices of bottled and sachet water have seen at least 2 upward adjustments due the rapid and sustained fall of the cedi against the US dollar.
We believe the motive for the 5% extra excise tax would be to raking in funds to tackle the menace plastics is posing to the environment.
There is an existing 10% environmental Excise tax on selected plastic at the ports of entry. We were part of the decision to tax plastic granules at the entry ports. This method broadens the tax base since all plastic granules are imported. However at the implementation stage only a selected few were captured.
Our suggestion to the government is to reinforce the environmental Excise tax at the entry points by reducing the tax rate to 1% and make it applicable to all imported plastic granules without any exceptions.
However Semi finished plastics imported into the country be taxed 10 %. of the cif value. We believe this will rake in more funds for plastic management than the additional 5% Excise tax imposition on finished plastics.
We also wish to put on record that since the inception of plastics in this country, all interventions in respect of managing plastic has been solely borne by the private sector.
From the collection point to the recycling stations there has not been any subsidy from government to the collectors etc.
NASPAWAP is therfore calling on government to heed to the call to suspend indefinitely the additional 5% Excise on finished plastics, and engage with stakeholders.
Thank you
+233 24 814 5549- Magnus Nunoo, President, National Association of Sachet and Packaged Water Producers (NASPAWAP)- +233 24 814 5549
