Trademark registration in Republic of Ghana

Ghana: registration of trademark

There are two regional commissions for registration of trademarks, namely: APIRO and OAPI in the territory of the African continent. However, Ghana is not included in the lists of any of them, which means that the process of registration in the state is possible only according to the national procedure.

Lawyers of Law&Trust will help you to carry out registration. Professional specialists provide legal support during preparation of documentation and expectation of the decision of the expert commission.

How to register trademarks in Ghana?

1. Logo. Presence of the emblem is a prerequisite for any new brand in the Ghanaian market. The brand mark can consist of pictures, diagrams, words, figures, surnames, names and other combinations. The logos, calling for committing violence and extremist activity are not accepted for consideration. Use of immoral details is not allowed.

2. Before submitting application for registering brand name in Ghana, the logo should be reconciled with the emblems of other organizations in the territory of that country. The expert commission verifies compliance only at a formal level, which accelerates the registration process. However, if your logo is considered to be copied or similar to previously registered trademark, you will not be able to extend the effect of your own brand to countries which commissions closely monitor over the coincidences in the graphic interpretation of trademark.

3. Collection of the documentation package. One of the most important stages that affects the success of the whole process. Complete register of documents is prepared by the lawyer of our company after brief consultation of the client. The register is influenced by: the status of applicant (natural person or legal entity), the scope of activity and the income level of the applicant (annual turnover), the number of branches and other factors.

4. Processing of documents. The official language in Ghana is English, and it is spoken by significant part of the world's population, however, professional legal translation is required for official documents. Our specialists can perform this operation. In addition to the translation, all forms need to be verified and filled correctly, and the package of documents is sent to the Ghanaian representative authority only after the verification.

The term to issue permission for entrepreneurial activity does not exceed one year from the date of submitting the package of official documents. The validity period of trademark's legal rights is equal to 10 years from the moment the commission makes a positive decision.

Detailed information on each of the stages of the work of lawyers can be clarified by phone.