The Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC) with the help of the Police has apprehended owners of five (5) companies which presented forged documents to register their businesses.

The owners of the unnamed companies allegedly forged documents to comply with the registration requirements under the GIPC Act 2013 (Act 865).

The cases involve falsification of Registrar General’s documents and forgery of GIPC Certificates as well as forged Bank of Ghana foreign equity confirmation letters.

The forgery of Registrar General’s Department documents and GIPC Certificates involves two (2) companies, one is currently being prosecuted by the GIPC in Court while the second company is being investigated by the Police.

Regarding the submission of forged Bank of Ghana equity confirmation letters, the three (3) companies involved mentioned in their caution statements to the Police that a staff member of the GIPC assisted them in preparing the documents for submission.

The said staff member has been invited by the Police and is assisting with the investigations.

Two (2) of the companies involved in the forged Bank of Ghana equity confirmation letters are also among four (4) Companies which have cases pending before the Court for failure to register with the GIPC.

It must be noted that Section 24 (1) of the Act states that “an enterprise in which foreign participation is permitted under this Act shall after incorporation or registration and before the commencement of operations, be registered with the Centre”.