Benso (W/R), July 15, GNA - The government has waived import duties to support the development of local industries and to promote the private sector as the engine of growth. This was stated by Mr Joseph Boakye Danquah Adu, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa North, when he led a 19-member Parliamentary Select Committee on Trade, Industry and Tourism on an inspection tour of the Benso Oil Palm Plantation (BOPP) at Benso in the Western Region. Speaking during the visit which was to enable the MPs to acquaint themselves with some of the challenges facing the industry and how best to address them, Mr Adu commended the management of BOPP for living up to its social responsibility by ensuring the socio-economic development of the communities within the company's area of operation. Neneyo Mate-Kole, Managing Director of BOPP and Mr. Samuel Avaala, Estate Manager took the MPs.

Briefing members of the committee, the Managing Director identified land acquisition as the major problem confronting the company. He stated that, even though the chiefs of the Adum Banso Traditional Area had promised to release 3,000 acres of land to the company they had not done so and appealed to them to honour their promise.

Neneyo Mate-Kole said BOPP had assisted communities within its area of operation through the provision of educational and health infrastructure and sanitation. The company had also donated building materials to the Adum Banso community, assisted with logistics in the implementation of the National Health Insurance Scheme and awarded scholarship to six children from Adum Banso, Benso and Dominase to pursue their education. He said BOPP had initiated work to acquire and install a 1,300 KVA steam turbine and boiler to make the company self-reliant in energy supply.

Neneyo Mate-Kole said the 1.4 million dollar project would be completed in the third quarter of this year. The parliamentarians planted various species of trees to mark their visit to the company. Nana Kobena Acquah, Regent of Adum Banso assured the MPs that the 3,000 acres of land promised the company would be released soon. He appealed to the government to tar the road from Mpohor to Adum Banso and from Benso to Bonsa and Kojokrom.