United States Pharmacopeia (USP) Ghana, a subsidiary of United States Pharmacopoeia US, has
presented various Laboratory equipment to the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) aimed at helping
the authority’s work.

Four major laboratory instruments were donated; a Gas Chromatograph coupled with a Headspace sampler (GC-HSS), High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph (HPLC), a Dissolution tester and a Disintegration apparatus.

In addition, the organization also supported the FDA lab with Balance (Micro), Sonicator, 14.4, Aspirator Pump, Zero Air Gas Generator, Nitrogen Generator, Hydrogen Generator, and Digital Thermometer.

These instruments will help improve the Authority’s physicochemical analysis of pharmaceutical
products that come onto the Ghanaian market.

Donating this equipment during a presentation ceremony at the USP-Ghana office in Accra, the
Director of USP Ghana and PQM Plus West Africa, Kwasi Poku Boateng said USP Ghana was
established 10 years ago and our task has been to provide technical assistance interventions,
training and testing to support the pharmaceutical sector in Africa.

With time these activities have evolved and a decision was made by the organization to discontinue third-party testing and focus its resources on helping entities like the FDA beef up their capacity for testing and ensuring compliance with appropriate standards.

The laboratory equipment will no longer be relevant to our current operations.

USP is, therefore, donating these equipment from its decommissioned laboratory to support entities like the FDA to help improve their capacity to be better placed in executing their mandate of ensuring the quality and safety of pharmaceutical products on the Ghanaian market.

"We believe FDA is a worthy recipient given their track record over the years and we believe they will be able to make good use of these equipment,” Mr Boateng remarked in a short welcome address.

Receiving the items on behalf of the FDA, Chief Executive Officer of the FDA, Dr Delese Darko said
the items will beef up existing laboratory infrastructure and will help enhance the laboratory analysis
of drugs.

She commended United States Pharmacopeia for its continuous commitment to drug safety and
for collaborating with the FDA over the years to ensure that the highest form of pharmaceutical
standards are maintained in Ghana.

“On behalf of FDA Management and staff especially our Centre for Laboratory Services, we thank
you for these equipment and assure you that it will be put to good use to make you proud.

"We cannot thank USP enough. USP has supported us in many ways such as capacity building and
training.

"The impact of their activities such as the PQM plus has been phenomenal for enhancing the
production of quality malaria medicines in Ghana. You are one of our partners who truly listen to us
and today’s donation is another example of our strong collaboration,” Dr Delese Darko said.

The United States Pharmacopeia is a non-profit, scientific, standards-setting and conformity
assessment organisation that improves global health through public standards and related programs
that helps ensure the quality and safety of medicines and food supplements.

For the past 200 years since its establishment, the organization, through its global public health
programs have been strengthening health systems by providing technical assistance that improves
access to quality, assured medicines and protects patients from poor health products as well as
support for workforce development.

USP actualises its commitment to the Pharmaceutical sector of Ghana by collaborating with the
University of Ghana Pharmacy School and the Food and Drugs Authority on areas of common
interest, geared towards improving pharmaceutical practices and drug safety in Ghana.