Office of the Registrar of Companies to pilot App to allow business registration from home

The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) is set to pilot a newly developed mobile application designed to enable individuals to register their businesses from the comfort of their homes.

The app will eliminate the need for physical visits to ORC offices while also reducing the influence of intermediaries in the registration process, making registration more accessible and efficient.

The Acting Registrar of Companies, Mrs. Maame Samma Peprah, made this announcement during a courtesy call on the Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, as part of her working visit to the region.

She said the app, which has already been tested, is designed to make business registration more accessible, user-friendly, and efficient.

She stated, “Two years ago, we initiated the procurement of a new app that will allow individuals to register their businesses from the comfort of their homes. This app has been tested and will soon be piloted, making the registration process more accessible and reducing the need for physical visits to our offices.”

Mrs. Peprah also outlined a series of broader reforms aimed at improving compliance and streamlining business operations in the Ashanti Region.

She emphasized that while registration fees remain important, greater attention must be given to the compliance and renewal processes of existing businesses.

“We must look beyond just the registration fees and pay attention to the compliance and renewal processes of existing businesses. Our aim is to ensure that all companies adhere to the necessary procedures to maintain their operational status,” she added.

To support this agenda, she noted, the ORC has begun district-level inspections to enforce compliance. The initiative forms part of a national effort to formalize businesses and strengthen Ghana’s regulatory environment.

Mrs. Peprah also introduced the role of insolvency practitioners under the new Companies Act, allowing companies facing financial difficulty to be assessed for recovery instead of being pushed directly into liquidation.

She said, “Previously, businesses would consider liquidation when facing downturns. With the new provisions, insolvency practitioners can evaluate and support companies to continue operations unless they are beyond redemption.”

On his part, the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr. Frank Amoakohene, commended the ORC for its efforts to improve the business climate in the region.

He noted that many entrepreneurs seeking government support often lacked proper business documentation due to non-registration.

He said, “I have been receiving a lot of business people in my office. They come for government support, but many of them have not registered their businesses and therefore do not have certificates to access the support they need. I have been directing them to go and register their businesses.”