Earlier this year, the Registar-General's Department (RGD) undertook a major system upgrade and audit of Industrial Property (IP) matters. As a result, all IP applications which were filed from January 2021 to March 2021, were only processed around mid-April 2021. However, the RDG has now expressed that it is in a position to clear the longstanding backlog.
The RGD is hopeful that the audit and upgrades will enable it to process real-time applications by December 2021. This is especially promising, given the inevitable delay caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, throughout the continent.
In order to assist with the audit and upgrades, the RGD has requested assistance from practitioners, in order to alleviate (and avoid) a further backlog due to non-compliance with current RGD practices. This level of collaboration is certainly welcomed in a time of uncertainty, throughout the world. Whilst the COVID-19 numbers in Ghana are relatively low at present and its vaccine rollout has re-commenced, the looming "third wave" of the pandemic remains on the horizon. The RGD's efforts to streamline and speed-up processes regarding IP matters will, no doubt, alleviate any additional pressure expected to be caused by the impending "third wave" of the pandemic.