The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has issued a firm reminder to all registered businesses in Ghana to file their annual returns or renew their business names by June 30, 2025, or risk being struck off the official register.
This directive, the first major announcement from Acting Registrar Maame Samma Peprah since assuming office, is in accordance with Section 126(1) of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992) and the Business Name Act, 1962 (Act 151).
The ORC cautions that companies failing to comply particularly those omitting required financial statements will be deemed non-compliant and may be fined GHS 1,000.
Furthermore, business names that are not renewed by the deadline will be considered lapsed, enabling the Registrar to reassign them to other individuals or entities.
According to the Registrar, the objective is to enhance transparency and enforce regulatory compliance across Ghana’s business landscape.
Per the law, companies must file annual returns within 18 months of incorporation, and then annually thereafter. These returns must include updated information on directors, shareholders, and financial statements—key details used to assess a company’s financial and operational standing.
Failure to comply carries serious repercussions. Companies will incur a fine of 25 penalty units per day for each day of default, and continued non-compliance could lead to deregistration, rendering them ineligible to operate legally.
In addition, such companies may face legal and financial setbacks, including difficulties in securing credit or entering into formal agreements.
The ORC urges all business entities particularly private and public limited companies, companies limited by guarantee, external companies, and unlimited liability companies to take the June 30 deadline seriously and comply promptly.
