Beneficial ownership, kept accurate.
Ghana keeps a central register of the people who really own and control companies. We help you identify them correctly, and notice when the record needs updating.
Private company · Not a government agency · Government fees shown separately
Who is a beneficial owner?
A beneficial owner is a natural person who ultimately owns or controls the company. That can be someone who holds shares in their own name, or someone who owns or controls the company through another person or another company.
The Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992) provides for a central beneficial-ownership register (section 373). Beneficial-owner particulars are given when a company is formed and again in each annual return.
The ownership and control thresholds that make someone a beneficial owner are set by current ORC guidance. Our guided questions apply them for you, and ask whether any owner is a politically exposed person.
- Who
- Natural persons who ultimately own or control the company
- Register
- Central register under Act 992, s.373
- First filed
- At incorporation
- Confirmed
- In every annual return
- Updated
- After any change in ownership or control
- If not filed
- GHS 500 penalty set by the Registrar
When the record needs updating.
Any change in who owns or controls the company should be reflected on the register, within the period set by current ORC guidance. We confirm the deadline when the change is logged.
Shares change hands
Shares are transferred, or new shares are issued, and someone’s ownership rises or falls as a result.
Control changes
Someone gains or loses the ability to control the company, even if the shareholdings look the same.
The annual return
Every annual return includes beneficial-owner particulars, so the record is confirmed at least once a year.
If beneficial ownership is not filed
Beneficial ownership not filed: GHS 500. The penalty is set by the Registrar. GHBusinessDesk does not set or collect penalties.
How GHBusinessDesk keeps it right.
Beneficial-ownership monitoring is part of the Professional plan, at GHS 400 a month, billed annually.
Private company · Not a government agency · Government fees shown separately
Identify the right people
Guided questions work out who ultimately owns or controls the company, including through other companies.
YouGHBusinessDeskNotice when something changes
Share transfers and officer changes made through GHBusinessDesk update your profile and flag a beneficial-ownership filing.
GHBusinessDeskPrepare and file the update
We prepare the particulars for you to approve, file them and track the deadline.
GHBusinessDeskYouThe Registrar records it
The authority keeps the register. Your confirmation goes into your vault.
The authority decides
Know your register is right.
The Professional plan watches for ownership and control changes and keeps your beneficial-ownership record current.
Private company · Not a government agency · Government fees shown separately
