Accra, Dec. 3, GNA - Unilever Ghana Limited intends to recommend to its shareholders at a general meeting that the company's management be authorised to review the operations of the company, according to a statement from the company on Thursday.

The review, which is intended to allow Unilever Ghana Limited to focus on strengthening its core consumer goods business, will lead to possible decisions on disposals and/or strategic partnerships and alliances in the company's interests in oil palm plantations and oil processing activities. The statement said this was aimed at attracting an investor whose core business is in oil palm cultivation and processing to bring technical expertise and other investments into the plantations.

According to the statement, this would enable Unilever Ghana to establish a sustainable, value creating base for its core consumer business, identify and partner a reliable operator in the market with a strong technical know-how, equipment and capacity to invest in and further develop the plantations whilst supplying Unilever Ghana with its oil requirements. "Therefore, Unilever's intention to undertake a strategic review of its operations in Ghana to strengthen its consumer goods business underscores its commitment to long-term investment in the country." The statement said Unilever Ghana began a rationalisation programme in 1997/98 to concentrate on its core activities of manufacturing, marketing and distribution.

The result of this was the disposal of non-core activities including its business interests in real estate, textiles, breweries and heavy equipment.

"As a result, Unilever Ghana's interests are today in two broad categories of the consumer business, namely, Home and Personal Care (HPC) and Foods, and in oil palm plantations to supply palm oil to the consumer business.