The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) and Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish ORC service desks within selected UMB Bank branches, a landmark partnership aimed at bringing business registration and compliance services closer to entrepreneurs and businesses across Ghana.
The signing ceremony, held at the UMB Head Office in Accra, marks a significant step in advancing customer convenience, improving access to public services, and supporting the Government’s agenda of enhancing the ease of doing business in Ghana. Under the partnership, ORC officers will be stationed at designated UMB branches to provide services such as business entity registration, filing of annual returns and renewals, and public education on ORC procedures, excluding re-registration and liquidation and insolvency matters.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Registrar of Companies, Mrs. Maame Samma Peprah, Esq., described the initiative as a significant milestone in public-private sector collaboration aimed at improving service delivery and promoting business formalization in Ghana.
She noted that the ORC is committed to becoming a technology-driven and customer-focused institution that supports enterprise growth, strengthens corporate governance, and contributes meaningfully to Ghana’s economic development.
The Registrar indicated that while technology remains critical to institutional transformation, accessibility and convenience are equally important. She explained that the establishment of ORC service desks within UMB branches will eliminate the need for many customers to travel long distances to access ORC services, thereby reducing barriers and transactional costs for entrepreneurs and business owners.
She further emphasized that collaboration has become the currency of modern governance, adding that strategic partnerships such as the ORC–UMB initiative create greater national value and improve service responsiveness to citizens.
Mrs. Peprah highlighted that business formalization remains one of the strongest catalysts for economic growth, as registered businesses gain credibility, attract investment, access financing more easily, and create sustainable employment opportunities. She commended UMB Bank for its vision and commitment to supporting national development through innovative partnerships that foster an enabling environment for businesses to thrive.
