Browsing by Author "Asamoah, Richard"

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    Determination of glucosamine in drug formulation
    (2008-08-05) Asamoah, Richard
    The purpose of this work is to evaluate and present the results of analysis of actual content of several products in the marketplace containing glucosamine salts and to determine if they significantly deviate from label claim. A total of nine products containing glucosamine sulphate and glucosamine hydrochloride were evaluated using two methods, non-aqueous titration and HPLC- UV method. Both salts are sparingly soluble in most organic solvents including glacial acetic acid and so the sulphate of the glucosamine was displaced using mercury (II) acetate, just as the chloride was treated prior to titration. From the titration results, the average percentage recoveries for the glucosamine hydrochloride standard and products 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9, are 100.8, 102.8, 103.5, 100.4, 84.3, 102.7, 99.3, 98.8, 102.9, and 102.7% respectively. Product 4 failed the test. The products that passed the test range between 98.8 and 103.5%. With regard to the HPLC, a pre-column derivatization was carried out by addition of phenylisothiocyanate (PITC). Analysis was completed by injection of 5.3µg/ml (5.292 µg/ml) of sample solution into an isocratic HPLC column made up of C18 column, a mobile phase of methanol: water: phosphoric acid (12: 88: 0.1), a flow rate of 1.5ml/min, and UV detector set at 240nm. The glucosamine anomer peak 1 eluted at 5.6 minutes while glucosamine anomer peak 2 eluted at 6.9 minutes post injection. The average percentage recoveries for products 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are 104.4, 102.2, 99.9, 83.9, 102.3, 97.4, 98.2, 103.1 and 101.9% respectively. The products that passed the test range between 97.4 and 104.4%. Dissolution tests were carried out on the nine products. Aliquots of the each sample were taken from the dissolution medium at 15min time interval for 1hour. A portion of filtrate sample was derivatized by addition of PITC. Analysis was completed by injection of 5.6µg/ml of sample solution into an isocratic HPLC column using the chromatographic conditions mentioned above. Nothing was detected for products 3, 5 and 6 at the end of 1 hour. The average percentage release of the active ingredients for product 1 at 15min, 30min, 45min, and 60min is 84.2, 90.0, 92.6, and 98.4% respectively. With regard to product 2, the average percentage release is 49.6, 52.2, 74.7 and 85.8% respectively. For product 4, the average percentage release is 52.3, 61.5, 76.5 and 91.7% respectively. For product 7, the average percentage release is 36.4, 47.5, 58.6 and 67.3% respectively. For product 8, the average percentage release is 49.6, 56.9, 82.0 and 89.0% respectively. For product 9, the average percentage release is 54.5, 62.6, 86.1 and 91.3% respectively. Both assay methods gave reproducible results. TLC analysis was carried out on the nine products; the results are shown in appendix 3.0. The Rf values of phenylthiourea derivatives glucosamine anomer spot 1 and spot 2 are respectively 0.19 and 0.30. Lastly, weight uniformity tests were carried out on the nine products. 20 tablets, capsules, and caplets were selected at random individually and their weights measured and recorded. The average weights were also measured and recorded. The average weights of products 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are 1.7076, 0.5375, 1.0247, 0.7691, 1.0416, 1.0149, 1.0297, 0.5356 and 0.5421g respectively. Product 7 failed the weight uniformity test. Three capsules deviated from average weight by the following percentages -8.86%, -8.20% and 8.70%.
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    The state of accountability and control in Public Procurement at Ghana Cocoa Board
    (2014-07-25) Asamoah, Richard
    Public procurement, a widespread phenomenon across the globe has become a dominant component of most nations’ total public expenditure and Ghana is no exception. It accounts for 50% -70% of total expenditure in Ghana representing 18.2% to 25.48% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product. This generates interest in monitoring procurement staff and holding them accountable for their actions and inactions. It is in the light of this idea that our study focuses on “the state of accountability and control in public procurement at Ghana Cocoa Board”. Data for the study was collected via the use of a well-structured questionnaire survey and an analysis of the responses led to a few findings. The study found out that Ghana Cocoa Board is abreast with the Public Procurement laws, rules and regulations. COCOBOD keeps up-to-date records in paper and electronic form and almost all the procurement staffs have been actively involved in procurement administration. COCOBOD also have well trained professionals who occupy various positions and with their long years of service manning the affairs of the procurement entity. Also there is a clear chain of command and a well-defined organizational structure at Ghana Cocoa Board. There is also a clear separation of roles and responsibilities and all staffs in charge of procurement process are responsible for their actions and inactions. The study recommends that training and refresher courses be organized for COCOBOD staff periodically to update them on current procurement practices, appropriate sanctions be applied for defaulting staff and the procurement department of COCOBOD should be strengthened to improve on documentation of procurement actions.