Notarization Request Form (Ghana)

A Notarization Request Form in Ghana records the applicant's request and the particulars the recipient needs to decide it.

A Notary Public in Ghana is a legal practitioner of at least five years' standing who has been admitted to the Roll of Notaries by the Supreme Court of Ghana. Notaries Public in Ghana are officers of the Supreme Court and their acts carry official authority recognised in Ghana and in all countries that are parties to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents 1961 (the Apostille Convention). Ghana acceded to the Apostille Convention in 2019, meaning that notarized documents issued by a Ghanaian Notary Public bearing an Apostille certificate issued by the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration are accepted in all 124 Apostille Convention member states without further legalisation.

The Notarization Request Form (Ghana) sets out the details of the document to be notarized, the identity of the person presenting the document (the presenter), the purpose for which the notarized document will be used, and the destination country if the document is intended for use abroad. This information enables the Notary Public to determine the appropriate form of notarial certificate required — whether a simple certification of a copy, an authentication of a signature, or a full notarial act recording the execution of a deed or instrument.

Common documents notarized in Ghana include powers of attorney for use in property transactions under the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036), affidavits for use in proceedings before the High Court of Ghana, academic certificates for overseas study or employment applications, company documents for submission to foreign business registries, and contractual instruments for international commercial transactions governed by the United Nations Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods (CISG), to which Ghana is not a party but which is frequently invoked by parties to international contracts.

The Ghana Bar Association maintains a directory of practising Notaries Public in Ghana. Notaries Public in Ghana are regulated by the General Legal Council (GLC) established under the Legal Profession Act 1960 (Act 32). The GLC investigates complaints against Notaries Public and has power to suspend or strike off practitioners who commit professional misconduct. Fees charged by Ghanaian Notaries Public are subject to the fee schedules approved by the General Legal Council.

For documents intended for use in countries outside the Apostille Convention, the notarized document must be further legalised by the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, followed by the consular section of the destination country's embassy in Accra. This additional legalisation chain is called consular legalisation or the full chain of authentication.

The Notarization Request Form in Ghana is needed whenever a document must be officially authenticated by a Notary Public for use in legal, commercial, or administrative proceedings in Ghana or abroad.

The Notarization Request Form is required when a Ghanaian resident or company needs to submit a certified copy of a document — such as a birth certificate, marriage certificate, academic transcript, or company certificate of incorporation — to a foreign embassy, university, or employer. Embassies of countries including the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, Germany, and Australia routinely require notarized copies of Ghanaian documents as part of visa and immigration applications.

The form is needed when executing a power of attorney for use in a property transaction in Ghana under the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036), where the donor of the power is physically absent and the attorney will act on their behalf before the Lands Commission. The Lands Commission of Ghana requires notarized powers of attorney for all registration transactions involving an attorney acting under a power.

The Notarization Request Form is required when a Ghanaian company incorporated under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) needs to submit notarized copies of its constitutional documents — including its Certificate of Incorporation and Regulations — to a foreign company registry or bank as part of an international business transaction or cross-border investment under the Ghana Investment Promotion Centre Act 2013 (Act 865).

The form is needed when a student applying to a foreign university must submit notarized copies of their academic certificates issued by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Ghana Education Service (GES), or a Ghanaian university accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC).

The Notarization Request Form is required when executing an international commercial contract that requires the signatures of the parties to be notarized and authenticated by an Apostille for recognition in a foreign jurisdiction. Since Ghana acceded to the Apostille Convention in 2019, Ghanaian notarized documents bearing an Apostille issued by the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs are accepted in all 124 Apostille Convention member states.

Parties in Ghana should prepare a Notarization Request Form (Ghana) proactively rather than waiting for a dispute to arise. Courts interpret agreements based on the written terms rather than oral representations. Under Ghanaian law, the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992 is the supreme law. The Courts Act 1993 (Act 459) governs court procedures. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) administers tax under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896). The High Court of Ghana has unlimited original jurisdiction under Article 140 of the Constitution. The Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843) and the Data Protection Commission govern personal data processing. Where the transaction involves regulated activities, prior approval from the relevant authority may be required before execution.

The Notarization Request Form (Ghana) under the Notaries Public Act 1960 (Act 26) must contain the following elements to enable the Notary Public to complete the notarial act properly.

Presenter Details: Full legal name, residential or business address, and identity document details of the person presenting the document to the Notary Public. In Ghana, the presenter must produce a valid national identity document — typically the National Identification Authority Ghana Card (GHA-XXXXXXXXX-X), a valid Ghanaian passport, or a driver's licence issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA). Section 2 of the Notaries Public Act 1960 (Act 26) requires the Notary Public to verify the identity of the presenter.

Document Description: A precise description of the document to be notarized, including its title, date, and the name of the issuing authority (if a government or institutional document). Where the document is in a language other than English, a certified translation must be provided.

Type of Notarial Act: Specification of the notarial act required — for example: certification of a true copy of an original document; authentication of the signature of the presenter; witnessing the execution of a deed; administering an oath or affirmation; or a full notarial act recording the execution of an instrument under seal.

Purpose of Notarization: A clear statement of the purpose for which the notarized document will be used — for example, submission to a foreign embassy for a visa application, registration at the Lands Commission of Ghana, submission to a foreign court, or use in an international commercial transaction.

Destination Country: The country in which the notarized document will be used. Where the destination country is a member of the Apostille Convention, the Notary Public will note that an Apostille from the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration will also be required. Where the destination is outside the Convention, the full consular legalisation chain applies.

Fee Agreement: Acknowledgment of the notarial fee payable under the General Legal Council fee schedule. Notarial fees in Ghana are calculated by reference to the type of act performed and the number of pages of the document.

Declaration: A signed declaration by the presenter confirming that the document is genuine and that the information provided in the request form is accurate.

Forms-legal.com provides this Notarization Request Form as a starting point for individuals and businesses in Ghana seeking notarial services. Presenters should contact a Notary Public enrolled with the Ghana Bar Association before completing the form to confirm the precise requirements for their specific transaction.

Additional compliance elements for a Notarization Request Form (Ghana) used in Ghana include: Under Ghanaian law, the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana 1992 is the supreme law. The Courts Act 1993 (Act 459) governs court procedures. The Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) administers tax under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896). The High Court of Ghana has unlimited original jurisdiction under Article 140 of the Constitution. The Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843) and the Data Protection Commission govern personal data processing. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Ghana-compliant documentation.