The American Chamber of Commerce, Ghana (AmCham Ghana), through its Legal, Policy & Governance Committee, has held a high-level engagement with Maame Samma Peprah, Registrar of Companies at the Office of the Registrar-General, on Wednesday, 22nd July 2026, to discuss critical reforms aimed at enhancing the ease of doing business in Ghana. The meeting, which brought together representatives of AmCham Ghana’s Legal, Policy and Governance committee led by Augustine Kidisil, Committee Chairman and Managing Partner for Templars Ghana, Kofi Asmah, Senior Partner at Gyandoh Asmah and Co, Diana Sey of AFS International Exchange Program, Jane Okyere-Aduachie of AmCham Ghana, and Albert Ludwig of AmCham Ghana, and officials from the Registrar-General’s Department, focused on the digitalisation of business registration processes, verification of corporate documents, and the operational efficiency of registration services.

 

A central topic of discussion was the ongoing digital transformation of business registration in Ghana. Officials from the Registrar-General’s Department outlined plans to roll out a comprehensive end-to-end digital platform that would allow businesses to complete the entire registration process online, from name search to final certification. The new system is expected to significantly reduce processing times and eliminate the need for physical submission of documents. The platform, currently being piloted, will integrate with national identification systems to streamline data verification.

 

AmCham Ghana raised concerns about persistent delays in business registration and the verification of corporate certificates, particularly for international businesses seeking to establish operations in Ghana. In response, Registrar-General officials mentioned a digital verification system that allows users to check company information, registration status, and beneficial ownership details in real-time. The platform is already being piloted with financial institutions and is expected to be expanded to other users, including law firms and business associations.

 

Discussions also covered the issue of fee structures for the new digital services. Registrar-General officials indicated that the platform would offer flexible payment options, including annual subscriptions for unlimited searches and a “pay-as-you-go” model for occasional users. Members of the business community expressed strong interest in the subscription model, noting that it would provide predictability and cost efficiency for companies that frequently need to verify corporate information.

 

Another key area of discussion was the verification and authentication of business certificates. AmCham Ghana members highlighted the challenges faced by their members, particularly international companies, in verifying the authenticity of registration documents submitted by potential partners. The new digital platform is expected to address this by enabling instant verification of certificates through the online system, eliminating the need for manual checks and reducing the risk of fraud.

 

The meeting further touched on broader regulatory reforms, including the separation of the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) from the Registrar-General’s Department. This separation, which took effect under the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), is designed to streamline entity registrations and advance sound corporate governance principles. Officials noted that the new ORC would focus exclusively on company registrations and regulation, while the Registrar-General’s Department would concentrate on civil and non-commercial functions.

 

The new platform is expected to be fully operational in the coming months, with ongoing engagement between AmCham Ghana and the Registrar-General’s Department to ensure that the system meets the needs of the business community.

 

The Chamber will continue to work with its members to identify challenges and advocate for solutions that promote a more competitive business environment in Ghana.

 

A powerful conversation unfolded at Google Accra, on Wednesday, 22^ND July 2026, as industry leaders, filmmakers, and investors gathered for The Creative Economy Summit Ghana 2026, focused on transforming Ghana’s vibrant creative energy into a structured economic powerhouse. The resounding message was clear; the time for treating African creativity as mere culture is over; it is time to embrace it as a serious asset class and a driver of commerce.

 

The Summit, which featured high-profile panels on investment, film production, and the digital economy, was opened by Director, Diaspora Affairs, Office of the President. Kofi Okyere-Darko, who emphasized the strategic importance of the creative industries. “The evidence of Ghana’s creativity already exists, the more useful conversation now is how we tend creativity into an organized economic sector to project the orange economy. That is a different discussion altogether,” he noted.

 

The discussion, marked by a sense of urgency and opportunity, explored the critical gaps holding the sector back: a lack of access to funding, the challenge of distribution, and the need for a skilled labor force. A key theme throughout was the necessity of building a viable ecosystem where talent and commerce go hand in hand.

 

A major panel, “The Creative Economy as an Investment Frontier,” moderated by the Memebership, External Relations and Project Manager of American Chamber of Commerce Ghana, Jane Okyere-Aduachie, tackled the data gap that often deters investors. Paul Garnes, CEO of Array,  a celebrated American film producer and longtime collaborator of Ava DuVernay, provided a global perspective. He emphasized that while the creative economy is valued at over $2.25 trillion globally, Africa’s challenge isn’t just about finding production money, but in building the infrastructure for distribution. “If you can fix the distribution problem, the production investment problem goes away,” he stated, urging Ghana to build from the ground up, not model the failing strategies of the West.

 

Mariam Buahin, COO of the Akuna Group, highlighted the need for creators to think like businesses. She pointed out that talent often struggles to articulate their value to corporate partners. “The marriage starts when we are all around the table understanding we are achieving one objective,” she explained. She called for creators to find business partners (“suits”) to handle commercial negotiations, allowing the talent to focus on the art while ensuring the IP is properly valued and protected.

 

The conversation also spotlighted how technology is a critical enabler. Panelists discussed how platforms like the newly launched Akuna Wallet, designed by Idris Elba’s Akuna Group, can help solve one of the fundamental problems for creators; getting paid. The wallet allows African creators to receive international payments seamlessly, facilitating cross-border collaborations. “The opportunity is democratization,” Buahin noted, pointing to the power of social media, data, and fintech to unlock new revenue streams.

 

A recurring sentiment was that talent is the bedrock of the entire industry. A poignant moment came from producer Nicole Amarteifio, creator of An African City, who shared her journey of self-training to break into the industry. The panel stressed that talent creates stories, stories build audiences, and audiences attract investment, which in turn creates jobs and builds industries. “Investing in infrastructure and talent,” a speaker concluded, “is not just about entertainment; it’s about jobs, investment, and national development.”

 

The summit concluded with a call to action for stronger collaborations, institutional partnerships, and a concerted effort to change the narrative from one of culture to one of commerce. As Paul Garnes powerfully put it, “We shouldn’t change our message to fit the world; we should learn to tell our story so well that everyone outside of Ghana wants to see it.”