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, Sem Iroko Esq, 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.