The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Dr. Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, has inaugurated the 11-member Governing Board of the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) with a charge to reform, strengthen, and reposition the institution as a credible and independent regulator of businesses in Ghana.
The ceremony, held on Monday, 18th August, 2025 brought together government officials, corporate governance experts, and industry stakeholders to witness the swearing-in of the new Governing Board, chaired by Mr. David Kudoadzi, Esq.
In his remarks, Dr. Ayine underscored the indispensable role of collective expertise and stewardship in navigating the current opportunities and challenges confronting corporate governance in Ghana. He emphasized that the ORC, as the statutory body mandated to register and regulate all businesses in the country, faces pressing realities undermining the effective discharge of its mandate.
He identified technology and system limitations, the absence of centralized verification mechanisms, human resource and legal bottlenecks, an outdated Business Names Act, 1962 (Act 151) and staff and infrastructure deficiencies as some of the major setbacks that have resulted in inefficiencies in service delivery.
Against this backdrop, the Attorney-General tasked the Governing Board to prioritize reforms and develop strategies to transform the ORC into a strong institution that not only registers businesses but also instills trust, promotes compliance, and drives economic growth.
He further urged the Board to:
• Review the Business Names Act 151 to reflect modern commerce and digital entrepreneurship
• Strengthen inter-agency partnerships for effective data verification and
• Address staffing and infrastructure shortfalls.
Dr. Ayine also underscored the urgent need to eliminate the activities of middlemen, popularly known as “Goro Boys,” whose operations often increase the cost of business registration and erode public trust in the system.
He stressed that 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.
The Sector Minister, Dr. Ayine emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of the ORC’s zonal offices by equipping them with the requisite personnel and technology to enhance service delivery nationwide.
He further challenged the new Governing Board to work towards improving Ghana’s standing in the World Bank and other international bodies’ Ease of Doing Business ratings, 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 office’s unwavering support, encouraging them to approach their task responsibly, with clarity of purpose, a spirit of service and commitment to the values defining the ORC.
The 11-member Governing Board includes:
1. Mr. David Kudoadzi, Esq. – Chairman
2. Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, Esq.
3. Mr. Eric Nipah
4. Prof. Williams Abayaawien Atuilik.
5. Mrs. Maame Samma Peprah, Esq.
6. Mr. Ferdinand D. Adadzi, Esq.
7. Ms. Selina Bebaako-Mensah.
8. Ms. Gloria Kafui Hiadzi.
9. Mrs. Deborah Mawuse Agyemfra, Esq.
10. Mr. George Amissah Jnr, Esq.
11. Mr. Noah Tumfo.
The inauguration marks an important milestone in the governance of the ORC, as the Governing Board assumes its role in guiding the institution toward achieving efficiency, credibility, and alignment with international corporate governance best practices.
