File photo of some bottled water
Correspondence from Upper East Region
Residents of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region are experiencing a shortage of bottled water as demand surges due to the warm season. The extreme heat has increased thirst among dwellers, putting pressure on suppliers and retailers.
Many customers are persistently requesting more bottled water, but suppliers are struggling to meet the demand.
GhanaWeb’s Sarah Dubure visited several shops in town to assess the situation firsthand.
Atampugri, a shop owner at God is My Provider, lamented that while suppliers previously allowed them to request their preferred quantity, they now dictate how much each retailer receives.
She also noted a significant price hike. “A pack of Verna was GH¢26, but it is now GH¢45,” she said.
A storekeeper in the Bolgatanga market, Joseph Atoya, expressed frustration over the persistent shortage. “For the past few days, people have been coming to buy bottled water, but there is none available,” he said.
According to Atoya, they previously sourced supplies from multiple distributors but are now restricted to only a few due to the ongoing limitation.
To retain their customers, suppliers have opted to ration supplies, ensuring that each retailer receives a small quantity rather than allowing one buyer to purchase a large stock at the expense of others.
“They can’t give a large quantity to one customer while others get nothing, so they distribute small amounts to each person,” he explained.
He also noted that a pack of bottled water, which previously sold for GH¢35, now costs GH¢45.
At Daily Ventures Supermarket, cashier Elizabeth Atinga recounted similar struggles. While they suffered from the shortage, they managed to secure a supply two weeks ago.
“Whenever customers come and there is no water, they complain, especially considering the hot weather,” she said.
She described how difficult it has been to obtain water. “Yesterday, we struggled. Even before the delivery truck reached Bolga, people were already waiting at the store where the order was placed,” she added.
She highlighted that Belaqua and Verna were the most sought-after brands. However, when customers fail to find them, they settle for any available alternative.
According to her, the price of a pack of bottled water has skyrocketed from GH¢28 to GH¢50.
At Daily Needs Supermarket, Faustina Nsiah revealed that they had not received any supply for months. They only had large-sized bottles of Voltic available, but most customers preferred the medium or small sizes.
Nsiah expressed concern over the situation, hoping for new stock soon as demand remained high.
Meanwhile, a visit to one of the shopping malls confirmed the shortage. Their marketing executive, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that water runs out quickly whenever they receive a supply.
The executive dismissed claims of a drastic price increase, attributing the high prices to individual sellers taking advantage of the situation.
“Even though there is a slight increment, the way some sellers are pricing it is excessive. It is those outside the main distribution chain who are hiking the prices,” the source said.
The exact cause of the supply shortage remains unclear. However, there are speculations that manufacturers are waiting for the new government to settle in fully before making further production plans.
Others believe the curfew in Walewale is a contributing factor, as suppliers prefer to return the same day and may be avoiding night-time travel restrictions.
