The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has tasked the newly inaugurated Governing Board of the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) to embark on bold reforms aimed at transforming the institution into a credible, transparent, and globally respected regulator of businesses in Ghana.
The 11-member Governing Board, chaired by David Kudoadzi, Esq., was formally inaugurated on Monday, August 18, 2025, at a ceremony in Accra attended by government officials, legal practitioners, corporate governance experts, and industry stakeholders.
The inauguration represents a key step in the government’s agenda to modernize business regulation and improve the country’s investment climate. Key challenges facing ORC In his address, Dr. Ayine acknowledged that the ORC plays a central role in Ghana’s business ecosystem as the statutory body responsible for registering and regulating businesses.
However, he noted that the institution continues to face serious operational challenges, including: Outdated legislation such as the Business Names Act of 1962, which does not reflect modern commercial practices or digital entrepreneurship. Technological and system limitations, hindering efficient service delivery and data management. Weak verification mechanisms, which compromise the integrity of business registration processes.
Human resource gaps and infrastructure shortfalls, particularly at zonal and regional offices. The persistent activities of middlemen, commonly referred to as “Goro Boys,” who exploit loopholes in the system to charge illegal fees, undermine transparency, and reduce public trust.
Mandate to the Board Against this backdrop, the Attorney-General urged the Board to undertake reforms that will reposition the ORC as a pillar of Ghana’s business environment. He specifically called for: A comprehensive review of the Business Names Act to align with emerging trends in commerce, technology, and international standards.
Enhanced collaboration with other state institutions, such as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and National Identification Authority (NIA), to strengthen data-sharing and verification systems. Deployment of modern digital tools to streamline processes, reduce bureaucratic delays, and eliminate corruption.
Capacity-building initiatives to adequately staff zonal offices and expand nationwide coverage. Dr. Ayine stressed that dismantling the “Goro Boys” network must be a top priority, as their operations fuel corruption and raise the cost of doing business. He argued that a transparent, reliable, and accessible ORC will attract more entrepreneurs to formalize their businesses, thereby boosting government revenue and job creation. Vision for Ghana’s business climate.
The Minister further challenged the Board to work towards improving Ghana’s position in the global Ease of Doing Business rankings, emphasizing that a modernized ORC should become one of the leading institutions driving reforms to make Ghana more attractive to investors.
“By the end of your tenure, the ORC should not only demonstrate remarkable institutional progress but also rank among the top-performing agencies in Africa that are driving corporate governance and business reforms,” he said.
He assured the Board of his ministry’s full support and encouraged members to serve with clarity of purpose, accountability, and dedication to the values of public service.
The newly inaugurated ORC Governing Board includes: David Kudoadzi, Esq. – Chairperson 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. Mr. Noah Tumfo
The inauguration of the new Board marks a critical milestone in corporate governance reforms. The ORC, established under the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), is central to Ghana’s ambition to build a transparent, investor-friendly economy. With this new leadership, the institution is expected to step up efforts to streamline business registration, enforce compliance, and align its operations with international best practices.
