Bolgatanga: Mr Hillary Adongo, a Small Business Development Advisor, has raised concerns over the increasing skepticism by financial institutions regarding the authenticity of business renewal receipts issued by the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC). Mr Adongo raised the concern in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Bolgatanga after holding a meeting with some entrepreneurs who are running Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs).
According to Ghana News Agency, financial institutions are increasingly questioning the validity of receipts generated through the ORC's online platform, primarily due to the absence of the official ORC logo. This recurring issue is creating unnecessary hurdles for small-scale businesses. Mr Adongo, who works closely with entrepreneurs and startups across the country, noted that some entrepreneurs had even been denied access to banking services due to doubts about the legitimacy of these receipts.
As someone who has supported numerous businesses through this process, it is disheartening to receive calls from bank staff, including personnel from very reputable institutions, seeking clarification on a system that should already be widely recognized and trusted. He emphasized the need for the ORC to undertake awareness creation and sensitization campaigns targeting banks and other stakeholders.
These efforts, he suggested, could include workshops, webinars, informational circulars, and the development of verification mechanisms for banks to cross-check the status of business renewals. Financial institutions play a crucial role in the growth of the business ecosystem and must be adequately informed about regulatory tools and platforms.
Mr Adongo also expressed concern about the poor responsiveness of the ORC's online enquiry system and customer support channels, pointing out that many users, particularly first-time registrants and entrepreneurs in rural areas, often needed assistance but were unable to get timely support. Unfortunately, the online enquiry platforms and helplines are frequently unresponsive, forcing people to make unnecessary physical visits to ORC offices for even minor issues. This undermines the broader national digitalization agenda.
He urged the ORC to audit and improve upon its customer service infrastructure, ensuring that enquiry phone lines were active during business hours and that email responses were timely and helpful. Establishing a reliable and responsive helpdesk is not a luxury. It is a necessity for building trust in a digital system.
The majority of participants shared their ordeals, explaining how they missed numerous business opportunities due to skepticism from some institutions regarding the authenticity of receipts issued to them by the Office of the ORC.
