The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has issued a stern reminder to entrepreneurs and business owners to register their businesses or risk sanctions, including possible closure.
Speaking to the media, the Director of Business Registration and Licences, Yayra Adzo Banini, stressed that registration remains the only legitimate proof of a company’s existence.
“We can boast that if you are born, you will have a birth certificate, and if you are traveling, you will have a passport. So, if you claim that you have a business, the only way you can prove you actually exist is to register. There are many benefits attached to it, so don’t wait until the opportunity comes before you run to our offices.” She explained.
Her colleague, the Director of Inspection and Compliance, Sandrah Koko Quacoe, reinforced the warning, noting that companies failing to comply with the Companies Act risk being struck off the register.
“Update your records with us, make sure you file, comply with the Act, and that will prevent unnecessary penalties. In the worst case, the Registrar has the mandate to strike out companies if they fail to comply,” she cautioned.
To encourage compliance, the ORC says it has rolled out community-based registration clinics, aimed at making the process more accessible and raising awareness about the importance of compliance.
“We are bringing registration clinics to all environments. Anytime you want to do something and engage us, we are gladly ready to come there to serve you on the spot,” Banini added.
The ORC also says it has in recent years stepped up enforcement measures to formalise Ghana’s largely informal business sector, ensuring companies operate within a transparent and regulated framework.
