Benso (W/R), Dec 23, GNA - The Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) has honoured 23 workers and 10 smallholder and out-grower farmers for their dedicated service.

They received television sets, radio cassette players, bicycles, sewing machines, and cartons of soap, cutlasses and Wellington boots. Sixty-three other employees who had served the company for 25 years and above were also given certificates and cash awards at a Workers' durbar at Benso.

Mr Kwame Addae, Managing Director of BOPP, expressed his appreciation to the workers for their high sense of dedication and commitment that had sustained the company.

He pledged to cooperate with the workers' union to provide additional incentives to enhance the welfare of both the workers and farmers in the area.

Mr Addae said Unilever Ghana had acquired the 58.45 per cent equity that was held by Unilever Plc, in BOPP.

Mr. Addae said total fresh fruit bunch (FFB) production from the company's nucleus farm, smallholder and out-grower farms between January and November was 86,429 tons as against 85,010 tons for the same period in 2002.

He said the target for this year was 92,015 tons and attributed the shortfall to theft and diversion.

Mr. Addae said BOPP produced 16,340 tones of palm oil for the period as against the target of 17,936 tones, while palm kernel production was 4,292 tones as against the target of 4,771 tones.

Mr. Edward Tawiah-Amprofi, Mpohor-Wassa West District Chief Executive, commended BOPP for rehabilitating roads in the area and being a partner in development especially in the provision of health and educational facilities.