Registrar of Companies Initiates Removal of Non-Renewed Business Names
The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has declared its intention to eliminate all business names that have not been renewed by January 17, 2027, from its official register. This initiative seeks to enhance adherence to legal requirements stipulating that all registered business names must undergo annual renewal upon the expiration of their registration.
A public notice released on November 4, 2026, indicated that the Registrar had identified several business names in the register that had failed to comply with renewal requirements as mandated by law.
The announcement emphasized that any business names not renewed on or before the stated date would be classified as lapsed and subsequently removed from the ORC’s records.
The ORC further cautioned that once a business name is deregistered, it would cease to be recognized. Any individual continuing to operate under a name that has been officially canceled would be in violation of the law and subject to applicable penalties.
In light of this, the ORC strongly encourages business owners whose registrations are due or have already lapsed to take prompt action to bring their registrations up to date.
Businesses in question can renew their names at any Registrar of Companies office or via the USSD code *222#. Additionally, they must pay all overdue renewal fees and update any changes related to their details, including business addresses and types of operations.
The Registrar also recommended that those who no longer wish to operate under their registered business names should formally inform the office in writing so that their names can be effectively removed from the register.
This initiative is part of the ORC’s commitment to upholding compliance with Ghana’s corporate regulatory framework, while also promoting best practices in corporate governance and enhancing business transparency.
BY GORDON WELLU
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