In western Ghana, at the heart of a region where agriculture remains a key driver of economic development, one company has established itself as a benchmark in the oil palm industry. For nearly five decades, Benso Oil Palm Plantation PLC has contributed to the transformation of this strategic sector by focusing on sustainable production, local employment, and the integration of communities into its economic model.
Established in 1976, Benso Oil Palm Plantation PLC, commonly known as BOPP, is today one of Ghana’s leading agro-industrial companies. Located in Adum Banso, in the western region of the country, near Takoradi, the company cultivates oil palm and produces raw materials for industrial processing. Listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange in 2004, BOPP is now controlled by Wilmar Africa, a subsidiary of the international group Wilmar International. The company aims to become a center of excellence for Africa’s oil palm industry by combining productivity, innovation, and compliance with environmental standards.
« After we got certified, all the other companies in Ghana that got certified, they came here to learn from us. And I want to say that it was the same proof of practice that they used in various forms to also get certified. And to that extent, I would say that not only Ghana, but other plantations from the Africa region have come to pick some of the lessons from us. »
Samuel Avaala, Former Managing Director of Benso Oil Palm Plantation PLC – Ghana
Beyond its agricultural production, Benso Oil Palm Plantation is a major economic player in its region. The company directly employs around 500 people and supports an ecosystem of nearly 1,700 direct and indirect jobs through transport, harvesting, maintenance, and agricultural service activities. It also works with 438 smallholder farming households integrated into its agricultural programme. Its commitment to local communities is further reflected through social investments, particularly in education, with a school serving more than 1,000 students from surrounding communities.
“Employees on the company’s payroll are just about 500 and in addition to that, we have small businesses, businessmen and women and companies that provide services, farm services. Some are transporters, others are harvesting contractors, others are maintenance contractors. They also have their employees who work for them and so if we count back and add all these people who are also numbering about a thousand two, then in total, direct employment, we are counting a thousand seven hundred.”
Samuel Avaala, Former Managing Director of Benso Oil Palm Plantation PLC – Ghana
Committed to sustainable production, BOPP has distinguished itself by obtaining RSPO certification, an international benchmark for responsible palm oil production. This recognition has strengthened its position as a model company in Ghana and across Africa, with several plantations drawing on its experience to improve their practices. With the opening of African markets, particularly through the AfCFTA, the company now aims to extend its impact beyond Ghana’s borders.
“So that market is not only just in Ghana, it is in the whole sub-region. And now it’s even wider, given the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement that has come into force. We are listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange. And that keeps us also quite visible, and also being a company that espouses sustainable production.”
Samuel Avaala, Former Managing Director of Benso Oil Palm Plantation PLC – Ghana
Through its model combining agricultural production, environmental responsibility, and community development, Benso Oil Palm Plantation PLC represents a new generation of African companies capable of creating value while addressing social and ecological challenges. In Ghana and across the West African sub-region, BOPP is thus reaffirming its ambition: to make oil palm a driver of sustainable growth and a pillar of Africa’s agro-industrial sector.
