Sample collection Palm oil samples were collected from seven major cities in Ghana namely: Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, Ho, Cape Coast, Koforidua, and Sunyani. Apart from the Greater Accra Region, the six other regions are major producers of palm oil.
Is palm oil good for cooking in Ghana?
In Ghana, people mostly prefer to use palm oil for household cooking due to its nutritional and health benefits. Also, palm oil is comparatively cheaper . With regards to nutritional benefits, CPO is a rich source of carotenes (alpha-and beta carotenes), and lycopene, which account for its characteristic dark red colour [ 7, 8] .
How is palm oil processed in Ghana?
In Ghana, the processing of palm oil is dominated by small-scale producers who employ either traditional or semi-mechanised methods , and all samples tested were collected from manufacturers who follow the same procedures already alluded to, in processing palm oil.
Why is palm oil a problem in Ghana?
A large percentage of the palm oil produced by small-scale processors cannot be utilized by the larger scale industries in Ghana or abroad because of its poor quality. There is an urgent need to explore the causes and to identify ways to address the situation.