Since the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992), every company registered in Ghana must disclose its beneficial owners to the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC), which keeps a central Beneficial Ownership Register. Here is what that means and how to comply.
What is a beneficial owner?
A beneficial owner is the natural person — a human being, not another company — who ultimately owns or controls the company. For example, someone who holds a significant percentage of shares or voting rights, or who otherwise exercises control. Even where shares are held through other companies or nominees, the real person behind them must be identified.
Why it exists
Beneficial ownership disclosure is part of Ghana anti-money-laundering framework and improves transparency about who really controls companies. It is now a standard part of registering and maintaining a company.
What you must disclose
- Full name, date of birth and nationality of each beneficial owner
- Their TIN or Ghana Card number
- The nature and extent of their interest or control
- Whether any owner is a Politically Exposed Person (PEP)
When to file
Beneficial ownership information is provided at incorporation and must be kept up to date — you must notify the ORC when ownership or control changes, and confirm the details when filing annual returns. Failing to disclose accurately can lead to penalties.
We take care of the paperwork
Beneficial ownership disclosure is built into every company incorporation we handle — we collect the right details and file them correctly with the ORC. Start a company registration and we will guide you on who counts as a beneficial owner for your business.