Ghana
Corporate Guide

What is the process of setting up a company in Ghana?

The process of setting up any company in Ghana involves applying to the Office of the Registrar of Companies in the prescribed form with the required information. This information includes:

• Name of the proposed company, as well as the type of company, nature of business, etc.
• The company name, names and addresses of the shareholders, the percentage of their respective shareholdings, respective occupations, and any directorships in any other companies.
• The full names of the first directors of the company.
• Information of the company secretary and auditor.
• Beneficial ownership disclosure.
• Disclosure of stated capital and authorised shares for companies with shares. 
• Undertaking of payment by members in case the proposed company is a company limited by guarantee.

The procedure for registering a partnership is as follows:

• Search for the availability of the name at the Office of the Registrar of Companies.
• Purchase and complete the prescribed forms for Incorporation of the Partnership (Form B) from the in-house bank (at the Registrar General’s Department) or download the forms online. 
• Attach the stamped partnership agreement from the Lands Commission Valuation Division (LCVD).
• Submit completed and signed forms together with the partnership agreement to the Partnership Registration Counter for Verification and Capturing or submit the forms online.
• Pay a fee of GHS 240 for the processing of the application forms at the in-house bank or online via the ghana.gov.gh platform. (An optional service cost of GHS 1,000 may be paid in addition to the processing fees for faster service.)
• The Registrar examines, approves, and issues the certificate of incorporation and certified true copy of Form B.
• After the partnership has been duly incorporated, there is an annual requirement for the renewal of the registered name each year at a fee of GHS 90.
• As a further requirement of incorporation, a tax identification number needs to be obtained for the proposed company and all proposed officers of the company. 

Under the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act, 2013 (Act 865), a company that has foreign participation (companies with foreign directors or shareholders) is required to register the company with the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC). The steps for registration with the GIPC are:

Download and complete the GIPC registration form online, and submit the following:

• Copy of certificate of incorporation 
• Copy of the company’s regulation 
• Beneficial ownership document from the Registrar of Companies 
• Form 3 from the Registrar of Companies 
• Change of profile document from the Registrar of Companies (if any changes have been made) 
• Articles / memorandum of association (in the case of liaison companies or subsidiaries) 
• Power of attorney (in the case of liaison companies) 
• Deed of transfer or shareholder’s agreement filed with the Registrar of Companies (in situations where some shares have been transferred) 
• Companies already in operation need to provide: a tax clearance certificate, PAYE list and receipts, SSNIT (list and receipts)
• Audited accounts / financial statements
• A valid national ID of the officer submitting the application.

After the application is completed and submitted and the applicable fee has been paid (see fee structure here), the GIPC may then issue a registration certificate, thereby completing the process. This process takes about five working days to complete.