The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has announced plans to remove business names that have not been renewed from its Register, with the deadline for compliance set for January 17, 2027.
In a public notice issued on November 4, 2026, the Office reminded the general public and owners of businesses registered under the Business Names Act, 1962 (Act 151), that business name registrations are required to be renewed annually upon expiration.
The decision follows observations by the Registrar that a number of business names on the Register have remained unrenewed, contrary to the requirements of the law.
According to the notice, all business names that remain unrenewed by January 17, 2027, shall be deemed lapsed and subsequently removed from the Register maintained by the Office.
The ORC cautioned that following removal, such business names will cease to exist as registered businesses. Consequently, persons who continue to conduct business under cancelled names risk being in breach of the law and may be subject to applicable sanctions.
To avoid the cancellation of their business names, the ORC is urging all affected business owners, particularly those with expired or outstanding renewals, to take immediate steps to regularize their registration status.
Business owners are advised to:
- Renew their business names at any ORC office nationwide or conveniently through the USSD short code *222#.
- Pay all outstanding renewal fees.
- Update any changes in their business particulars, including business address and nature of business.
The Office further clarified that business owners who no longer intend to operate under their registered business names may formally notify the Registrar in writing to have their names removed from the Register.
The Registrar of Companies emphasized the importance of maintaining an accurate and up-to-date Register of businesses as part of the Office's broader commitment to strengthening regulatory compliance, promoting good corporate governance and enhancing transparency in Ghana's business environment.
The ORC therefore encourages business owners not to wait until the deadline but to undertake the necessary renewals and updates well ahead of January 17, 2027.
For further enquiries and assistance, the public may contact the ORC Call Centre on 0308 249 841 or WhatsApp/Telegram on 059 952 5774. The public may also connect with the Office through its official social media platforms, @ORC GHANA.
