RESEARCH PROPOSAL

MPHIL CHEMISTRY EDUCATION

TOPIC

QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF INDIGENOUSLY PROCESSESD PALM OIL IN

ASANTE JUABEN MUNICIPALITY IN THE ASHANTI REGION OF GHANA

BY

AKOSUA BIRAGO
INTRODUCTION

The oil palm (Elias guineesis) is one of Africa’s most important oil producing plant (Vickey and

Vickey, 1979). The oil palm fruits produce two types of oil, palm oil which is extracted from the

ripe pericarp of the fruit and palm kernel oil from the seeds, both of which are important in the

world trade.

Palm oil accounts for more than 20% of the global edible market and is the second most

consumed edible oil in the world with its increasing use by the food, health, cosmetic and

biodiesel industries.

Also, industrially palm oil can be used as a raw material in producing a light-coloured product

such as olein, stearin, fatty acids and these can be used in the manufacture of products such as

cooking fats, ice-cream, bakery fats, cooking oil, soap, etc (Ihekoronye and Ngoddy, 1985)

Oil palm is indigenous to Ghana and it is an important local staple for Ghanaians of all cultural

backgrounds thus providing major role in culture, tradition and practice.

The light yellow to orange-red colour of palm oil is due to the fat-soluble carotenoids which are

responsible for the high vitamin A content (Ugwu et al,.2002).

Most people in Ghana prefer palm oil to the other types of oil such as olein, palm kernel oil,

coconut oil, etc because of its nutritional value, low level of fats, cost, and accessibility.

Traditionally or indigenous method of palm oil production is the most used method of producing

palm oil in Ghana and West Africa as a whole. The knowledge and importance about palm oil
have been transferred from several generations to generations orally without any proper or

minimal documentation or research.

The measure of the physiochemical properties of palm oil such as moisture level, free fatty acid

(FFA), colour (Ojiako and Akubugwo, 1997), odor, saponification value, deterioration of

bleachability index (DOBI), melting point enables scientist to predict its quality. The level of

these parameters in palm oil must fall within an acceptable standard or reference prescribed by

the Food and Standard Authority in order to ascertain its quality.

Accurate and precise determination of free fatty acid (FFA) content is essential for quality

control and assurance in oil production. Free fatty acids present in food has diverse effects on

health and nutrition as well as sensory characteristics of food such as favour and taste, therefore

accurate quantification of FFA’s in food is critical for quality control and assurance in the food

industry.

The quality of palm oil could be affected by improper post-harvest handling, processing and

storage techniques, rainfall, sunshine (excessive sunshine leading to oxidation in the palm nuts)

and sometimes adulteration ranges.

Most people involved in the production of palm oil for public consumption in Ghana are mostly

individuals using their own methods in the oil production. Factors affecting the process are not

mostly considered as there are no rules or regulations regulating the indigenous production of the

palm oil product in Ghana and precisely in the Ashanti Juaben municipality.
Because of the possible contamination that are carried throughout the production process, people

acquire a lot of diseases such obesity in adults, hepatic and muscle insulin resistance

(cardiovascular diseases), diabetes, increasing raise in blood pressure in the body upon long-term

consumption.

This study will give a baseline data on palm oil and help policy makers to help regulate the

indigenous or local sectors to help improve the quality of palm oil on our markets to help reduce

the rate of unknowingly acquiring some long-term diseases in Ashanti Juaben Municipality and

Ghana as a whole.

PURPOSE OF STUDY

The main purpose of this study is to assess the quality of indigenously processed palm oil in

Asante Juaben Municipality of the Ashanti Region

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

More than 90% of the inhabitants of Ashanti Juaben Municipality consume palm oil. The

challenge is more pressing as consumers do not consider the type of palm oil before consuming.

Because the palm oil on the market is indigenously produced without any quality assurance test

being carried out on it, consumers are at the risk of consuming barely anything

The palm oil on the market is packaged into any desired container or rubbers without any

information about the date of production, and the physiochemical properties of the palm oil.

Unfortunately, there are no reports suggesting the side effects of consuming any palm oil

because much research have not been done on it pertaining to its lifelong effect which makes it a

canker that needs to be addressed

The major questions that should be asked is that, is locally processed palm oil entirely safe for

consumption? What is the quality of the different palm oils on the market?

What are the constituents of the oil, how safe it is and its lifelong health implications?

OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY

The objectives of the study are to

 determine the physiochemical parameters of indigenously processed palm oil in the

Ashanti Juaben municipality of Ghana

 determine the packaging strategies used by sellers on the market in Ahanti Juaben

 compare the levels of the physicochemical parameters with Ghana standard board and the

World Health Organization

JUSTIFICATION OF THE STUDY

Fats and oils are very important in the human body as it helps the body in providing insulation

and protection of vital organs, support cell growth and also helps the body to absorb vital

nutrients.

Because of these importance, substances or sources providing this important factor in the body

should be given much attention so as to improve the health of those that consume or use it.

This study will provide credible evidence for decision and policy makers in Ghana and most

especially food and Standard Authority to design measures to address the numerous indigenous

palm oil production by assisting them in the necessary procedures in arriving at the quality of

palm oil on our markets. Availability of quality palm oil on our markets will go a long way in

improving the health and economic life of the citizens in the municipality. It is against this

background that this study seeks to look at the colour (Ekwu and Nwagu, 2004), moisture, free
fatty acid levels, saponification value, odour and deterioration of bleachability index (DOBI) in

palm oil and hence improve the quality of the numerous palm oils on our markets for human

consumption and also improve the nature of raw material used in the production of palm olein.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The outcome of the study will be informative and useful enough for policy makers to develop

proper policies towards the production of palm oil in Ghana. Also, the research will inform the

Ashanti Juaben Municipal Assembly and the health directorate about the quality of palm oil on

the market and also assist in providing the necessary assistance to the local producers in arriving

at producing quality palm oil acceptable for consumption on the market.

PROPOSED METHODOLOGY

There are several local palm oil production sites in Ashanti Juaben and five (5) of them will be

selected purposely for this study. Five (5) samples will be collected at three months intervals

from January to April for analysis. Samples will be collected and stored in 2.0L polythene bottles

for analysis. Moisture content samples will be stored in opaque and sealed bottles or containers

to prevent it from coming into contact with water.

The results from the five different sources would be compared with World Health Organization

(WHO) and Ghana Standard Authority to ascertain whether the physiochemical parameters are

within acceptable range for human consumption.

The following are proposed instruments to measure the afore-mentioned parameters

Instrument/method parameter

1. Lovibond tintometer or spectrocalorimeter colour

2. acid-base titration Free fatty acids

3. moisture analyzer Moisture content

4. saponification value Back titration

5. physical test (nose) Odour

6. UV Vis spectrophotometer deterioration of bleachability index (DOBI)

BUDGET

Activity Location Duration Expenditure (Gh ₵)

Collection of samples Ashanti Juaben 2months 1500

Municipal

Sample analysis Juaben Oil Mills Ltd 2months 5000

Ghana Standard

Authority

Report writing U.E.W 2months 400

Printing and binding 1month 300

miscellaneous 1500

TOTAL COST: Gh₵8700.00

TOTAL DURATION: 7 months

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