Benso Oil Palm Plantation awards workers

Benso (W/R), Dec 16, GNA - The Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) has awarded its workers at a durbar held at Benso in the Western region. In all 38 workers, seven female and 31 males were given awards and certificates for their outstanding performances.

The items received included ice chest and gas cookers. Mr Neneyo Mate-Kole, Managing Director, said BOPP was preparing to obtain a certification for sustainable agriculture from the Round Table for Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO).

The RSPO is an institution aimed at strengthening the role, cooperation and support of various stakeholders in working towards the production, certification, trade and use of sustainable palm oil. The over-riding idea is to ensure that palm oil contributes to a better world.

Mr Mate Kole said the company had one of the highest crude palm oil productions over a long period this year. He said crude palm oil production was marginally below the company's budget levels.

He said as at the end of November 2008 Fresh Fruit Bunch (FFB) production compared to the same period last year was below the budget of 38,678 tons, but above last year's production of 35,691 tons. The Managing Director stated that the Small Holder and outside purchase fruit for the period was 16,492 tons and 29,786 tons respectively, bringing to the total FFB production figures for the period to 82,975 tons as against a target of 88,702 tons and 81,123 tons for the previous years.

He said palm oil produced for the period was 14,877 tons which was 7.2 per cent below the target of 16,022 tons.

According to Mr Mate-Kole, palm kennel oil production followed the same pattern with 2,910 tons as against a target of 3,634 tons. He said BOPP during the year obtained a Fire Certificate from the Ghana National Fire Service, while its environmental management plan was also approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. The Managing Director commended the Local and National Unions of the General Agricultural Workers Union of the Trade Unions Congress for their support and cooperation in maintaining industrial peace in the company.

Mr mate-Kole said as part of its corporate social responsibility the company assisted the Edum Banso community with 15 bundles of roofing sheets for a teachers' hostel, 200 bags of cement and eight boxes of roofing nails.

It was also building a 10-seater KVIP at the cost of GH¢16,200 for the community.

He said the company was also putting up a three classroom block for the Benso/Wassa community. The Managing Director appealed to the government to improve access roads from Benso to Apowa to facilitate easy movement of goods and services.

Mr Anthony Amoah, Western Regional Minister gave the assurance that the 11 kilometre road would be given a bituminous surface. He said there were plans to extend the road networks in the area to promote the operations of the Company. Mr Stephen Aryeepah, Local Union Chairman appealed to the management of BOPP to provide the Union with an office equipped with a computer, printer and network facilities. He appealed to management to rehabilitate and maintain the workers' camp and staff the clinic. 16 Dec. 08