Deal #1346

Ghana
Created at
2013-08-16
Last update
2022-03-12
Last full update
2020-06-29

Land area

Intended size
4 678 ha
Size under contract (leased or purchased area)
  • [1983, current] 6799 ha
Size in operation (production)
  • [2010, current] 4738 ha
Comment on land area
According to the RSPO, the company originally had 6,798.697 hectares in 1983 when the agreement was signed between the government and the previous company’s name, i.e. United Africa Company (UAC) International Limited. A 2019 Grain report claims the company has 6,316 ha with 4738 hectares under production. JRC analysis gives a polygon covering an area of about 6,800ha covered by oil palm at different development stages. Oil palm trees are visible since 2011 and expanding every year. The company's 2019 annual report confirms an area of 4,738ha under production.

Intention of investment

Intention of investment
  • [current] Agriculture unspecified
Comment on intention of investment
Production and processing of palm fruits into crude palm oil.

Nature of the deal

Nature of the deal
Lease
Comment on nature of the deal
Lease was signed on December 12, 1983 valid for 50 years starting from 23 September 1976 to 22 September 2026.

Negotiation status

Negotiation status
  • [1983] Concluded (Contract signed)
  • [2011] Concluded (Change of ownership)
  • [1983, current] Concluded (Contract signed)
Comment on negotiation status
Bought from Unilever in 2011. Contract year remains 1983 because the new investor did not sign a new lease agreement for the plantation in 2011 but took over the existing lease.

Implementation status

Implementation status
  • [1976, current] In operation (production)
Comment on implementation status
Started as Benso Oil Palm Plantation Limited which was incorporated in 1976.

Contract farming

Contract farming
Yes
On leased area/farmers/households
  • [2010, current] 4666 ha
Not on leased / purchased (out-grower)
Yes
Not on leased area/farmers/households (out-grower)
  • [2010, current] 1650 ha 438
Comment on contract farming
In 2019, a proposal was made for a new smallholder project on 1,477ha communal farmland located in Trebuom in the Mpohor District. This land is owned by the Trebuom community and will not be owned by BOPP. Scheme started in 1994 and operates alongside nucleus plantations. BOPP has been running a 1,650 hectare oil palm smallholder scheme since 1994/96 with 438 participating farmers drawn from surrounding communities. This scheme operates alongside BOPP's 4,738 hectare nucleus plantations