The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has launched a new Prestige Service that allows businesses to complete registration within 24 to 48 hours for a modest fee, aimed at enhancing efficiency and expanding access to formalisation.
Acting Registrar of ORC, Mrs. Maame Samma Peprah, announced the initiative during an engagement with the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament in Accra.
She revealed that the service is available depending on the completeness and accuracy of submitted documentation.
“With the new Prestige Service, depending on the availability of data provided, applicants can have their registration completed in as little as 24 to 48 hours,” Mrs. Peprah said. “This has helped us achieve 96.48% of our registration target and register over 50,000 entities this year.”
To further broaden access, the ORC has been organising mobile registration clinics for individuals unable to visit its offices. Mrs. Peprah disclosed that the ORC is developing a new mobile application to deliver registration services directly to business owners’ doorsteps.
She also highlighted new responsibilities under the revised Companies Act, which empower the ORC to monitor and inspect companies for compliance.
However, she said field officers conducting quarterly inspections have sometimes faced harassment from business operators.
“The new law has expanded our role, including insolvency oversight. We’re now responsible for registering Insolvency Practitioners and ensuring distressed companies are restructured rather than allowed to collapse,” she added.
Despite its growing role, the ORC continues to struggle with low public awareness, partly due to confusion stemming from its split from the Registrar-General’s Department (RGD). Mrs. Peprah noted that the ORC still receives inquiries about services like trademark registration, which now fall under the RGD.
Efforts are also underway to improve digital and physical infrastructure. The ORC is planning to open a new office in Legon, pending approval of architectural plans. Internally, an audit revealed the need for new services and enhanced data protection policies.
“We’ve introduced data security policies to ensure ISO 27000 compliance and are strengthening our cybersecurity framework. Staff also undergo weekly training on data protection and cyber risk awareness,” she said.
Although the ORC plans to set up satellite offices in all regions, only two have been rolled out this year due to financial constraints. Mrs. Peprah also called for the replacement of the outdated e-registration system, which has been in use for over a decade.
Also appearing before the Committee was Mr. Mark Ziwu, Acting CEO of the Law Reform Commission, who reported severe logistical challenges, including lack of internet access, computers, and vehicles. These gaps, he said, hinder the Commission’s ability to conduct nationwide legal research.
In response, Deputy Ranking Member Alhassan Tampuli urged the Commission to consider commercialising some of its services to raise funds, while Vice Chairman James Enu described the Commission’s constraints as “heartbreaking” and pledged to push for increased budgetary support.
