New Registrar of Companies board tasked to reform business registration, fight corruption
By Praisebell Rosemond Larbi
The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has charged the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) to spearhead reforms aimed at strengthening compliance and repositioning the institution as a credible, transparent and independent regulator of businesses in Ghana.
The 11-member Governing Board, chaired by David Kudoadzi, was inaugurated on Monday, 18 August 2025, at a ceremony attended by government officials, corporate governance experts, members of the legal fraternity and representatives of the business community.
Delivering his keynote address, Dr Ayine emphasised that the ORC remains a central pillar in Ghana’s business regulatory framework but faces long-standing challenges that undermine its effectiveness.
These include outdated systems and technology, weak verification mechanisms, human resource constraints and legal bottlenecks, particularly the Business Names Act of 1962, which he described as inadequate for regulating modern commerce.
The Attorney-General also noted gaps in infrastructure and staff capacity as barriers to efficient service delivery.
Against this backdrop, Dr Ayine urged the Board to undertake bold reforms that would transform the ORC into a trusted regulator that not only registers businesses but also enforces compliance, instils public trust and promotes economic growth.
He tasked the members to prioritise the review of the Business Names Act, modernise the institution’s legal framework and ensure that regulations are aligned with the realities of digital entrepreneurship and e-commerce.
The Attorney-General also called for stronger inter-agency collaborations, particularly in data verification and information sharing, to reduce fraudulent practices in the business registration process.
He identified the operations of middlemen, popularly referred to as “Goro Boys”, as one of the most pressing threats to the ORC’s integrity, stressing that their activities increase costs, fuel bribery and erode public confidence in the system.
“Tackling the use of such intermediaries is critical to addressing issues of bribery and corruption involving public officials, which continue to undermine the efficiency, transparency and credibility of the Office of the Registrar of Companies,” Dr Ayine said.
The Minister further highlighted the importance of strengthening the ORC’s zonal offices with adequate personnel, digital tools and modern infrastructure to improve nationwide service delivery.
He challenged the Board to set ambitious targets toward improving Ghana’s performance in global Ease of Doing Business rankings, noting that by the end of their tenure, the ORC should not only show remarkable progress but preferably rank among the top-performing institutions driving business reforms in the country.
Dr Ayine assured the Governing Board of his Ministry’s full backing, urging members to approach their mandate with clarity of purpose, integrity and a commitment to public service.
The newly inaugurated Governing Board comprises Dr Justice Srem-Sai, Esq.; Eric Nipah; Prof Williams Abayaawien Atuilik; Mrs Maame Samma Peprah, Esq.; Mr Ferdinand D. Adadzi, Esq.; Ms Selina Bebaako-Mensah; Ms Gloria Kafui Hiadzi; Mrs Deborah Mawuse Agyemfra, Esq.; Mr George Amissah Jnr, Esq.; and Mr Noah Tumfo.
