Office of the Registrar of Companies introduces 48-hour prestige registration service 

The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has introduced a Prestige Service to process applications within 24 to 48 hours at a modest fee. 

Mrs. Maame Samma Peprah, Acting Registrar of ORC, announced the initiative during a meeting with the Constitutional and Legal Affairs Committee of Parliament in Accra.  

“Based on this we have been able to achieve 96.48 per cent of our registration target and the ORC has been able to register over 50,000 entities this year. Depending on the availability of data provided one can enjoy the prestige service,” she said. 

Mrs. Peprah explained that the ORC had been organising registration clinics to assist individuals unable to visit its offices, noting that many business owners preferred doorstep services.  

“That is the main aim of the new app that we are working on, to bring business registration to the doorstep of business owners,” she added. 

Mrs. Peprah said the new Companies Act had expanded ORC’s mandate to include monitoring and inspecting companies for compliance.  

Quarterly inspections are conducted, although officers have faced harassment from some business owners. 

“In terms of insolvency, our mandate has been broadened, and we look further to restructuring of companies and we ensure that companies do not collapse at a goal,” she said, adding that the ORC had begun registering Insolvency Practitioners. 

Mrs. Peprah acknowledged low public awareness of the ORC brand since its separation from the Registrar-General’s Department (RGD).  

“When we were decoupled from the Registrar General Department (RGD), not a lot of people were aware of our brand, so we are trying to put ORC out there for people to become aware of the difference between ORC and RGD.  

“It would surprise you that we still receive enquiries about trademarks while that has to be sent to the RGD,” she said. 

Mrs. Peprah said the ORC was working to establish a new office at Legon and was awaiting approval of architectural designs.  

She said an internal audit revealed the need for new services and improved data handling.  

“We have put in place some policies to streamline our system, given the sensitivity of the data that we collect and ensure that the data collected are ISO 27000 compliant. 

“We are also putting up measures to ensure that our cyber security measures are strengthened. We also do weekly data protection training among our officers as well as cyber surety awareness programmes for staff,” she disclosed. 

Mrs. Peprah said the ORC was setting up satellite offices across the regions but had only deployed two this year due to budget constraints.  

She called for the replacement of the e-registration software, which has been in use for over a decade. 

Mr. Mark Ziwu, Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Law Reform Commission, also met with the Committee.  

He said the Commission lacked internet access, laptops, and cross-country vehicles, which hindered its mandate to conduct nationwide legal research. 

Mr. Alhassan Tampuli, Deputy Ranking Member of the Committee, urged the Commission to consider commercialising its services to generate income.  

He also advised the ORC to seek police assistance to prevent harassment during inspections. 

Mr. James Enu, Vice Chairman of the Committee, described the Commission’s challenges as heartbreaking and pledged to advocate for increased budgetary support. 

Source: GNA 

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