Fighting corruption: AG asks new board of Office of Registrar of Companies to leverage Companies Act

The Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, has asked the new board of the Office of the Registrar of Companies to leverage the new companies Act 2019 (Act 992), to help the government fight corruption and money laundering.

Noting the cooperation of the Office of the Registrar of Companies in efforts against corruption, Mr. Dame stated that due to the enactment of Act 992, issues of money laundering and the concealment of illicit wealth, have been drastically reduced.

“The Office of the Registrar of Companies has become a veritable partner of the government in its effort to root out corruption. 

I am firmly of the conviction that when effectively managed, the Registrar of Companies can, indeed, be a strong partner of the government in the fight against corruption and the promotion of good governance in the country,” he said.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the 10-member governing board.  

The new Board will be chaired by Mr Seth Kwasi Asante, a corporate and financial law practitioner.

Other members include the Registrar General, Mrs Jemima Mamaa Oware; Mr Charles William Zwennes, Professor Williams Abayawien Atuilik, Ms Veronica Adigbo, Prof. Justice Samuel Kofi Date-Bah, Mrs Caroline Chapman Agyemang, Mrs Deborah Mawuse Agyemfra, Mrs Lady-Ann Essuman and Ms Yasmin Baba.

There are efforts being made to relocate the Office of the Registrar of Companies to a new premises at the University of Ghana.

While at it, Mr. Dame explained that the Land Lease Committee of the University of Ghana has agreed to a deposit of $1.5 million towards the acquisition of the land site.

He however stressed that it was time the Office of the Registrar of Companies became financially independent, alluding to Section 352 of Act 992.