ORC to Strike Off 453 Companies and Dissolves 323: How to Check Yours and What to Do

Short answer: the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) has put 453 companies on notice that they will be struck off the register, and has already dissolved 323 others. The 453 stand dissolved three months from 15 October 2026, so around 15 January 2027, unless they show cause. Check the ORC Companies Bulletin (Volume 48 and Volume 49) for your company's name, contact the ORC before the deadline if you are still trading, and file any missing annual returns. Then get a free reminder so it never happens again.

What the ORC announced

On 4 November 2026 the ORC announced two notices in its Companies Bulletin, both dated 15 October 2026 and signed by the Registrar of Companies, Maame Samma Peprah:

• Volume 48: 453 companies are on notice under section 289(3) of the Companies Act, 2019 (Act 992). They will "stand dissolved" three months from 15 October "unless cause is shown to the contrary".
• Volume 49: 323 companies have been dissolved under section 289(5). They had been warned in an earlier notice (Volume 40), and no response came within the notice period.

That is 776 companies in total. The ORC did not give a reason for each individual company. Under the Companies Act, the Registrar can remove a company it believes is not carrying on business, and missing annual returns is the most common warning sign.

The same reports say business names not renewed by 17 January 2027 will be treated as lapsed and removed from the register.

How to check if your company is on the list

1. Open the Companies Bulletin Volume 48 (companies facing strike-off) and Volume 49 (companies already dissolved) on the ORC website, orc.gov.gh.
2. Search the file for your registered company name. Long names wrap across lines and some entries have typos, so also search for one distinctive word from your name.
3. Not sure? Ask the ORC directly: call centre 0308249841, WhatsApp and Telegram 059 952 5774, email [email protected].

If your company is on the list

• In Volume 48 and still trading? Contact the ORC before mid-January 2027 to show cause, and bring your filings up to date. After the three months, the company stands dissolved.
• Already dissolved (Volume 49)? Speak to a lawyer. Under section 289(7), a liquidator, former officer, member or creditor can apply to the court within 12 years of the strike-off being published to have the dissolution declared void.
• Dissolving does not wipe out debts. Under section 289(6), the liability of every director, officer and member continues as if the company had not been dissolved.

Why companies end up here

Most of them did nothing dramatic. They registered, got busy, and missed the yearly filing:

• Companies must file an annual return at least once a year (section 126 of Act 992). A company in default, and each responsible officer, faces a penalty of 25 penalty units for every day the default continues. In 2026 the ORC also charged late filers a flat penalty on top of the filing fee: GH₵1,000 for 1 to 4 years in default, GH₵2,000 for 5 years or more.
• Business names (sole proprietors) must be renewed every year. The ORC fee is GH₵70 a year, and you can renew at any ORC office or by dialling *222#. A name that is not renewed is treated as lapsed.
• The deadline moves. The ORC announces it each year. In 2026 it first set 30 April for annual returns and business name renewals, then extended it to 30 June and said there would be no further extension.

Every company also needs a qualified company secretary under section 211 of the Act. Part of the secretary's job is making sure the annual return is filed on time.

Never miss the deadline again

Registering is the start, not the finish. We built a free tool for exactly this: Business deadline reminders. Leave your email and tell us whether you are a business name, company or partnership. We email you:

• the day the ORC announces the year's annual returns and renewal deadline;
• again 30 days and 7 days before it;
• a "new date" email if the deadline is extended;
• optionally, the GRA tax return deadline and your own Data Protection Commission renewal date.

You can also add the deadlines to Google Calendar, an iPhone or Outlook once they are announced. It is free, every email has a one-click stop link, and we use your address for nothing else. Set up your reminders.

TrustCheck is not the ORC, and this is not legal advice. Always check the official bulletin and talk to the ORC or a lawyer about your own company.