In Ghana, a new legislative proposal could soon mandate that all businesses operating within the country adopt the .gh domain for their official websites and digital communications, as outlined in the Ghana Domain Name Registry Act, 2025.
The draft legislation specifies that “every entity legally registered or conducting business in the Republic must register and maintain an active .gh domain for any official website or publicly accessible digital platform.”
Currently open for public feedback from October 13 to November 7, 2025, the bill aims to establish the Ghana Domain Name Registry, which will oversee the management and regulation of the .gh domain namespace.
This registry will be tasked with maintaining a centralized database of domain names, ensuring secure email services for government institutions, and regulating domain name usage within Ghana.
Entities not presently using a .gh domain will be required to switch within six months of the bill’s enactment, or they may face penalties.
Exemptions are available for companies whose services do not target Ghanaian users or whose digital platforms are hosted outside Ghana; such businesses must formally request exemption from the registry.
Non-compliance carries serious consequences, including fines and potential suspension or revocation of regulatory licenses. The bill allows for penalties of up to 5,000 penalty units for company directors and between 1,000 and 10,000 penalty units annually for businesses failing to comply.
Moreover, the registry has the authority to petition Ghana’s High Court to block, seize, or deactivate domains that violate the law. Internet service providers may also be ordered to disconnect offending entities from their networks.
This Domain Name Registry Act is part of a wider legislative package that includes the Cybersecurity (Amendment) Bill and the Data Harmonisation Bill, both under parliamentary review. However, some citizens have expressed apprehension that these laws could increase governmental oversight of online spaces and raise concerns about data privacy.