The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has announced an extension for filing Annual Returns and Renewals. The new deadline is September 30th, 2024.
This extension is due to a recent nationwide strike that impacted the ORC’s ability to serve clients. The ORC aims to use this extra time to ensure a smoother filing process for businesses and promote compliance with regulations.
Here’s a breakdown of the situation:
- Businesses Impacted: The extension applies to Businesses Names (Sole Proprietorships), Companies Limited by Shares, and Companies Limited by Guarantee (including schools, associations, churches, NGOs, etc.).
- Current Status: Only a small percentage of businesses have completed their filings:
- 6,760 out of over 530,000 Business Names
- 1,844 out of 10,734 Companies (including those in default)
- Importance of Filing: Companies that fail to file by the deadline risk being struck off the register. This can lead to a 12-year ban on using the company name and require a court order for reinstatement.
How to File:
- Businesses are encouraged to file electronically or visit the ORC website: https://rgd.gov.gh/
- Companies in default can still file their Annual Returns and Renewals by September 30th to avoid being struck off the register.
The ORC recommends that company officials check the national dailies or the ORC website for a list of companies at risk of being struck off.
