Businesses operating in Ghana could soon be required to use the .gh domain name for their official websites and correspondence, according to provisions in the Ghana Domain Name Registry Act, 2025.
“All entities legally registered or operating in the Republic shall be required to register and maintain an active .gh domain name for any official website or digital platform intended for public access,” an excerpt from the bill states.
The bill, which is currently under review, establishes the Ghana Domain Name Registry and is open for public consultation from October 13, 2025, to November 7, 2025.
The proposed registry will be responsible for administering and managing the .gh domain space, maintaining a central registry of domain names, and providing secure email services for government bodies.
Organisations that do not currently use .gh domains will be required to make the transition within six months after the bill takes effect or risk sanctions.
However, the legislation provides exemptions for businesses that do not target Ghanaian users or whose digital platforms are hosted outside the country. Such businesses must apply to the registry for official exemption.
Failure to comply could lead to significant penalties. Companies and their directors may face fines, while regulatory licences could be suspended or revoked. Under the bill, directors can be fined up to 5,000 penalty units, and businesses between 1,000 and 10,000 penalty units for each year of non-compliance.
Additionally, the registry may apply to the High Court of Ghana to seize, block, or deactivate non-compliant domain names. Internet service providers could also be compelled to disconnect defaulting entities from their systems.
The proposed Domain Name Registry Act forms part of a broader legislative effort that includes the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill and the Data Harmonisation Bill, both currently under review. However, some Ghanaians have voiced concerns that sections of these bills could expand government control over digital spaces and potentially raise privacy issues.
