GJA and GBA Risk Deregistration for Non-Compliance

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) are among a significant number of professional bodies at risk of being struck from the national register for failing to submit their annual accounts and update their membership certificates.

Out of 91 registered Professional Bodies (PBs), only 26 have complied with the directive of the Registrar of Professional Bodies to renew their certificates and those of their members. If the 65 non-compliant bodies fail to rectify their records by June 30, the extended deadline, they could face legal action. The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) stated it has already initiated legal proceedings due to non-compliance with Section 16 of the Professional Bodies Registration Act 1973. Some bodies have been in default for over two years.

Action

A statement issued on May 13 emphasized the necessity of this exercise due to the failure of these Professional Bodies to file their annual accounts and update their membership certificates as required by Section 16 of the Professional Bodies Registration Act, 1973, NRCD 143.

The decision followed a meeting with the executive council members of all registered professional bodies. The Registrar of Companies (ROC), who regulates Professional Bodies, initially directed all defaulters to comply by December 2023. However, the majority did not comply, compelling the ORC to consider legal action.

“Following a meeting with the Executive Council Members of all registered Professional Bodies, the Registrar of Companies (ROC), who is the regulator of Professional Bodies, directed those who had been in default for more than two years and had not updated their members’ certification to do so by the end of December 2023 or risk their name being struck out from the Professional Bodies Register in accordance with Section 11(b) of the Professional Bodies Act 1973 (NRCD 143),” the statement explained.

Being in Good Standing

The ORC noted that defaulters could still be in good standing if they filed their annual accounts by June 30, 2024, the deadline for submitting Annual Returns to the Registrar of Professional Bodies.

The filing should include a copy of the Audited Accounts, an updated list of members, and any constitutional changes before the removal of defaulters from the Register, starting at the end of June 2024, in line with Sections 15 (1)(2) and 16(1)(2).

The ORC will continue its rigorous sensitisation and public education campaign on the importance of compliance for registered professional bodies.

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