Unilever Ghana Limited has urged government to define a national policy for the management of palm industry in the country.

This is to ensure that manufacturers obtain supplies of palm oil from local sources while promoting equitable prices to the local supplier.

At the 19th Annual General Meeting of the company in Accra, recently, a dividend of 54 cedis per share in addition to an interim dividend of 31 cedis declared last December, was approved.

Mr Yamson, chairman of the board of directors, said "it does not make sense for Ghana to export palm oil only for the same palm oil to be imported back at higher prices".

Lever Brothers achieved an underlying volume of growth of 13 per cent last year with a turnover of 45.4 billion cedis. The turnover represents 59 per cent over its 1993 performance and 42 per cent of total group turnover in 1994.