Registrar of Companies, GARIA inducts 166 new members as licensed Insolvency Practitioners (IPs)

The Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) and the Ghana Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors (GARIA) has inducted over 160 members as newly licensed Insolvency Practitioners (IPs) at its second cohort Induction Ceremony in Accra.

The Induction Ceremony, which was also in partnership with other stakeholders including the Bank of Ghana and the Attorney General’s Department, forms part of ORC and GARIA’s key objectives to provide a forum for practitioners engaged in business recovery and insolvency practice. The new cohort brings to a total of over 270 IPs.

Former Chief Justice, Sophia Akuffo, who chaired the induction ceremony, commended the inductees for their perseverance and diligence in reaching this milestone. She also advised practitioners to maintain strong morals and values as these are the pillars of success in their respective fields.

She emphasized that the character of an insolvency practitioner matters to the stakeholders they represent, as effective institutions are built on well-rooted value systems.

"Your profession is placed in the engine room of our economy, you must raise yourself and be heard on issues concerning the economy, company rescue, and the efficiency of insolvency practice," she added.

The Minister for Justice and Attorney General, Hon. Godfred Yeboah Dame, in remarks made on his behalf by his deputy, Hon. Alfred Tuah-Yeboah, encouraged licensed Insolvency Practitioners (IPs) to prioritize saving distressed companies, emphasizing that the hasty winding down of firms that have the potential to be revived could harm the growth of the private sector.

He stated that the primary objective when dealing with struggling businesses should not be liquidation, but instead, efforts should be made to rescue and preserve distressed viable companies whenever possible, considering the impact on employment and other factors.

“Where a business can be saved by restructuring, every effort should be made by skilled professionals to save it by restructuring it, therefore there is now the need to encourage lawyers, accountants, and bankers to take an interest in the restructuring profession,” he said.

Furthermore, he expressed his belief that the expertise of well-trained insolvency practitioners would be highly sought after, given the current global economic conditions and the growing complexity of the business environment.

Registrar of Companies, Jemima Oware, reiterated the need for inter-agency collaboration across the financial spectrum – banking, accounting, taxation, insurance, and securities – as well as with the judiciary to promote efficiency in the application of the Corporate Insolvency and Restructuring Act (CIRA).

“It is going to offer greater ability to respond to the local needs of distressed companies, address crossover problems, and will clarify and improve the role definition of each of these agencies, especially when creditors and other claimants initiate a charge against a distressed company,” she explained, whilst pledging her support for training and related activities.

She stated that the review of the CIRA regulations is still ongoing, as the legal committee of the company of the registrar has requested additional work from the consultant. The aim is to ensure that critical stakeholders review and approve the regulation before it is passed by parliament to improve the work of insolvency practitioners.

As for the operationalization of the ORC, she confirmed that they are close to finalizing and approving the strategy document. Once accepted, the plan is to make the ORC self-financing to carry out its mandate, including establishing an Insolvency Service Division. This division will regulate insolvency practitioners for the first time.

In her own words, "After these documents have been accepted, we will move to ensure that the ORC is self-financing to carry out its mandate which includes the establishment for the first time, an Insolvency Service Division to properly regulate insolvency practitioners."

In a speech delivered by the bank of Ghana's Head of Resolution Office, Elliot Amoako, on behalf of the Governor, Mr. Amoako, said that though it operates in a specialized segment, the bank would not hesitate to seek the assistance of licensed insolvency practitioners if the need arises.

“I want to stress that the resolution of banks and SDIs is subject to the Special Resolution Regime established by Banks and SDIs Act 930. The Bank of Ghana, however, will not hesitate to rely on licensed professionals under the Ghana Association of Restructuring and Insolvency Advisors (GARIA) in the event of any future occurrences."

In addition, he encouraged licensed insolvency practitioners to stay informed about global developments, as increasing levels of globalization meant that events occurring in other parts of the world could have local consequences.

CEO of GARIA, George Fosu, explained that the induction ceremony is part of the association's broader objective to equip IPs with the essential core competencies required to assist businesses and organizations.

He emphasized that current training and education of insolvency practitioners need improvement, particularly in terms of business modeling, strategy, and corporate balance sheet restructuring. “This ceremony is essential in laying a solid foundation for the inductees to develop the skills and knowledge necessary to assist distressed organizations in managing their businesses, properties, and affairs,” he said.

Additionally, Mr. Fosu noted that the ceremony aims to raise awareness among businesses nationwide about the availability of specialized professionals who can provide assistance, particularly in the current challenging economic climate.

"Another important reason for this ceremony is to raise awareness among businesses across the country that there are specialized professionals who can help and assist them, particularly around this time, and it is absolutely critical that entrepreneurs know that they are not alone, which is why we are here," he explained.

Last year, during its first induction event, GARIA admitted 108 licensed insolvency practitioners into the profession of insolvency in Ghana. Working in partnership with the Registrar of Companies and the Attorney General's Department, the Association has inducted a total of over 270 IPs into the profession.