# Trademark registration in Ghana

> Trademarks in Ghana are registered with the Registrar-General's Department (RGD); the official application fee is USD 240, and third parties can oppose within 2 months from publication. A registration lasts 10 years from the filing date and can be renewed. Ghana can be designated through the Madrid System.

Source page: https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/ghana
Facts checked against official sources: 2026-10-11

## Key facts
- **Trademark office:** Registrar-General's Department (Trade Marks Office / Industrial Property Office) (RGD)
- **Official fee:** USD 240 — Application
- **Madrid Protocol:** Member since 2008
- **Opposition period:** 2 months from publication
- **Protection:** 10 years from the filing date, renewable
- **Multi-class applications:** No — one class per application
- **Foreign applicants:** An applicant whose ordinary residence or principal place of business is outside Ghana must be represented by a legal pr…

## Official links
- Trademark office: https://rgd.gov.gh/Industrial%20Property.html
- Law: Trade Marks Act, 2004 (Act 664) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/9180
- Law: Trademarks (Amendment) Act, 2014 (Act 876) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/17315
- Law: Trade Marks Regulations, 1970 (L.I. 667) — https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/14348

## Official fees
- Official search (optional): USD 135
- Application: USD 240 — Ghana requires one class per application; payable in USD or the cedi equivalent
- Registration certificate: USD 240

## Steps
1. Optionally request an official search to check for identical registered or pending marks.
2. File Trade Mark Form No. 2 with four representations of the mark; applicants whose residence or principal place of business is outside Ghana must be represented by a legal practitioner resident and practising in Ghana.
3. File a separate application for each Nice class.
4. The Trade Marks Office examines the application for formal and substantive requirements under the Trade Marks Act, 2004.
5. Accepted applications are published in the Industrial Property/Trade Marks Journal, and third parties may oppose within two months.
6. If there is no opposition, the applicant requests the registration certificate, which is then issued.

- **Examination:** The Trade Marks Office at the Registrar-General's Department examines formal and substantive requirements; no official examination time is stated.
- **Publication:** Industrial Property / Trade Marks Journal (Bulletin) published by the Registrar-General's Department
- **Opposition:** 2 months from publication (extendable by the Registrar)
- **Late renewal:** 6 months for late payment of the renewal fee, with a prescribed surcharge (section 11(2), Trade Marks Act 2004)
- **Language:** English
- **Use requirement:** a registration can be challenged after 5 years of non-use.

## Good to know
- Ghana does not accept multi-class applications; a separate application is needed for each class.
- Ghana is a member of ARIPO but not of the Banjul Protocol on Marks, so trademarks cannot be protected in Ghana through an ARIPO application; the routes are a national filing or a Madrid designation.
- The Registrar-General's Department quotes trademark fees in US dollars or the Ghana cedi equivalent.
- The Trademarks (Amendment) Act, 2014 (Act 876) added Madrid Protocol procedures (a new Third Schedule), a definition of well-known marks, stronger counterfeiting offences and a ten-year renewal period for marks registered under the earlier Act 270.
- A certified copy of a priority application is reportedly due within three months of filing in Ghana.

## FAQ
### Is Ghana part of the Madrid Protocol?
Yes. The Madrid Protocol has been in force for Ghana since 16 September 2008.

### How much does it cost to register a trademark in Ghana?
The Registrar-General's Department fee schedule lists USD 240 for an application, USD 240 for the registration certificate and USD 135 for an optional search, payable in US dollars or the cedi equivalent.

### Can I file one trademark application for several classes in Ghana?
No. Ghana requires a separate application for each Nice class.

### How long is the trademark opposition period in Ghana?
Two months from publication of the accepted application in the journal, and the Registrar can extend it.

### How long does a trademark last in Ghana?
Ten years from the filing date, renewable for further 10-year periods; late renewal is possible within six months with a surcharge.

### Do foreign companies need a local lawyer to register a trademark in Ghana?
Yes. Applicants resident or based outside Ghana must be represented by a legal practitioner resident and practising in Ghana.

## Sources
- Registrar-General's Department – Industrial Property: https://rgd.gov.gh/Industrial%20Property.html
- Registrar-General's Department website: https://rgd.gov.gh/
- WIPO Lex – Ghana profile: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/members/profile/GH
- WIPO Lex – Trade Marks Act, 2004 (Act 664): https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/9180
- WIPO Lex – Trade Marks Act, 2004 (Act 664) text: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/text/218530
- WIPO Lex – Trademarks (Amendment) Act, 2014 (Act 876): https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/17315
- WIPO Lex – Trade Marks Regulations, 1970 (L.I. 667): https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/legislation/details/14348
- WIPO Lex – Madrid Protocol contracting parties: https://www.wipo.int/wipolex/en/treaties/ShowResults?search_what=C&treaty_id=8
- ARIPO – Trademarks (Banjul Protocol member states): https://www.aripo.org/ip-services/trademarks

Need a firm that files in Ghana? Find one at https://trademarkshub.com/trademarks/ghana (TrademarksHub lists IP firms by country; featured placements are paid and labelled).
General information, not legal advice.