Run a business in Africa's common-law jurisdictions.
A walkthrough for Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Rwanda and the common-law regions of Cameroon: incorporate, contract & e-sign, manage lifecycle, and stay on top of every statutory filing.
Seven jurisdictions, one common-law tradition.
- Nigeria
CAMA 2020 · NDPR · FIRS · CAC.
- Ghana
Companies Act 2019 · DPA 2012 · GRA · ORC.
- Kenya
Companies Act 2015 · DPA 2019 · KRA · BRS.
- South Africa
Companies Act 71/2008 · POPIA · CIPC · SARS.
- Tanzania
Companies Act CAP 212 · PDPA 2022 · TRA · BRELA.
- Rwanda
Mixed system · Law N° 058/2021 · RDB · RRA.
- Cameroon (NW/SW)
Common-law regions; OHADA applies for company forms but contract law follows English common-law tradition.
Incorporate the right entity.
- 1
Pick the entity
Private company limited by shares (Ltd) is the workhorse. PLC for public offerings. LLP available in Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda. South Africa adds the (Pty) Ltd and personal liability company.
- 2
Name search & reservation
Name search at CAC (Nigeria), ORC (Ghana), BRS (Kenya), CIPC (South Africa), BRELA (Tanzania) or RDB (Rwanda). ALECS files the search and reserves the name (typically 30–60 days).
- 3
Constitution & incorporation pack
Memorandum & Articles (or constitution), shareholders register, director consents, statement of compliance, beneficial-ownership declaration. Drafted from your answers, lawyer-reviewed before filing.
- 4
Register and pay stamp duty
Electronic filing via CAC's CRP, ORC eRegistrar, eCitizen (Kenya), BizPortal/CIPC (SA), OBRS (Tanzania), or RDB online (Rwanda). Stamp duty paid at filing — receipts auto-attached as evidence.
- 5
Tax & employer registration
TIN (FIRS / GRA / KRA / SARS / TRA / RRA), VAT where thresholds are met, PAYE & social security (PenCom/NSITF in NG, SSNIT in GH, NSSF & NHIF in KE, UIF/SDL in SA, NSSF in TZ, RSSB in RW).
Draft, sign and manage agreements.
Common-law templates
150+ English-language templates aligned to common-law conventions: representations & warranties, indemnities, governing-law/jurisdiction clauses, dispute resolution (litigation or arbitration) and entire-agreement boilerplate.
Legally binding e-signature
Admissible under Nigeria's Evidence Act 2011 s.84 & ETA-aligned cases, Ghana's Electronic Transactions Act 772/2008, Kenya's KICA 2009 / Business Laws (Amendment) Act 2020, South Africa's ECTA 25/2002, Tanzania's EPOCA 2015 and Rwanda's Law 24/2016.
Contract lifecycle
Draft → review → negotiation → execution → active → renewal/escalation. Notice periods honour business-day conventions (e.g. SA's 'business day' definition, Nigeria's public holidays).
Per-country compliance calendar.
The statutory filings ALECS pre-loads when you add a common-law entity. Reminders route to the assigned owner and reviewer.
| Country | Filing | Due | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | CAC Annual Return (CAMA s.417) | Anniversary of incorporation | Annual return + updated BO register and audited accounts. |
| Nigeria | FIRS Companies Income Tax (CIT) | Within 6 months of FY-end | Self-assessment return + audited financials. |
| Nigeria | NDPR Annual Audit Return | 15 March | Required if processing > 2,000 data subjects in 12 months. |
| Ghana | ORC Annual Return | 42 days after AGM | Companies Act 2019 s.126; late penalty per day overdue. |
| Ghana | GRA Corporate Income Tax | Quarterly instalments + annual return | Annual return within 4 months of FY-end. |
| Kenya | BRS Annual Return | Anniversary of incorporation | Companies Act 2015 s.705. |
| Kenya | ODPC Data Controller Renewal | Annually | Data Protection Act 2019; mandatory for most processors. |
| South Africa | CIPC Annual Return + BO | 30 days after incorporation anniversary | Companies Act 71/2008; BO filing required since 2023. |
| South Africa | SARS Provisional Tax | Aug 31 and Feb 28 | Two provisional returns plus annual ITR14. |
| Tanzania | BRELA Annual Return | Anniversary of incorporation | Companies Act CAP 212; PDPA 2022 controller registration also annual. |
| Rwanda | RDB Annual Declaration + RRA CIT | 31 March | Single online window via RDB / RRA. |
Bar-verified common-law counsel on demand.
Legal shouldn't be a luxury.
Join thousands of African entrepreneurs, lawyers and businesses building on ALECS. Start free in two minutes.