Notary Public Certification Statement (Ghana)
Notary Public Certification Statement
NOTARY PUBLIC CERTIFICATION STATEMENT Pursuant to the Notaries Public Act 1960 (Act 26), Section 4 Republic of Ghana
Date of Notarial Act: [Certification Date]
I. Notary Public
I, [Notary Name], a Notary Public duly admitted and enrolled on the Roll of Notaries of Ghana maintained by the General Legal Council under the Legal Profession Act 1960 (Act 32), Roll Number [Notary Roll Number], of [Notary Address], hereby certify as follows.
II. Presenter
On [Certification Date], [Presenter Name] personally appeared before me and produced satisfactory evidence of identity in the form of a [Presenter ID Type], number [Presenter ID Number].
III. Document Certified
The document presented for notarization is: [Document Title].
Description: [Document Description]
Notarial act performed: [Notarial Act Performed]
IV. Purpose
This Certification Statement is issued for the following purpose: [Purpose Statement]
[Apostille Note]
Attestation
IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my official notarial seal on [Certification Date].
Notary Public
________________
Signature
What Is a Notary Public Certification Statement (Ghana)?
A Notary Public Certification Statement in Ghana confirms the declared information and the maker's responsibility for its accuracy.
Notaries Public in Ghana are appointed by the Supreme Court and enrolled on the Roll of Notaries maintained by the General Legal Council (GLC) under the Legal Profession Act 1960 (Act 32). A Ghanaian Notary Public must be a legal practitioner of at least five years' standing enrolled with the Ghana Bar Association. The GLC regulates and disciplines Notaries Public in Ghana and hears complaints from members of the public about professional misconduct. The Notary Public Certification Statement carries the official seal of the Notary Public and is an instrument of public faith.
Since Ghana's accession to the Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents 1961 (the Apostille Convention) in 2019, a Notary Public Certification Statement (Ghana) bearing an Apostille issued by the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is accepted by all 124 Apostille Convention member states as proof of the authenticity of the document, signature, or certified copy. This has significantly reduced the administrative burden on Ghanaian businesses, students, and individuals who need to use documents abroad.
Common uses of the Notary Public Certification Statement (Ghana) include: authenticating powers of attorney for property transactions before the Lands Commission of Ghana under the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036); certifying copies of company constitutional documents for submission to foreign business registries; authenticating academic certificates issued by West African Examinations Council (WAEC), the Ghana Education Service (GES), or universities accredited by the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC); verifying signatures on international commercial contracts; and certifying copies of court orders issued by the High Court of Ghana, the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court for recognition and enforcement in foreign jurisdictions.
The Electronic Transactions Act 2008 (Act 772) recognises electronic signatures in Ghana but does not override the requirement for notarization for instruments that must be executed under seal or authenticated for international use. Notarial acts under the Notaries Public Act 1960 (Act 26) must still be performed in person, with the presenter physically attending before the Notary Public. The Notary Public is required to verify the identity of the presenter before issuing the Certification Statement.
The Notary Public Certification Statement in Ghana must be signed by the Notary Public, bear their official seal, state their name and NLC Roll number, and be dated. The statement must clearly identify the document being certified, the type of notarial act performed, and the purpose for which the certificate is issued. Where the document is intended for international use, the Certification Statement must comply with the requirements of the Apostille Convention and the receiving country's domestic law.
When Do You Need a Notary Public Certification Statement (Ghana)?
The Notary Public Certification Statement in Ghana is needed whenever a document must bear official notarial authentication for legal, commercial, or administrative purposes in Ghana or in a foreign jurisdiction.
The Notary Public Certification Statement is required when submitting a certified copy of a Ghanaian company's constitutional documents — including its Certificate of Incorporation issued by the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) — to a foreign bank, business registry, or commercial counterparty as part of a cross-border transaction.
The statement is needed when a Ghanaian property owner grants a power of attorney to an attorney to act on their behalf in a land transaction before the Lands Commission of Ghana under the Land Act 2020 (Act 1036). The Lands Commission requires notarized powers of attorney for all transactions conducted through an attorney.
The Notary Public Certification Statement is required when a Ghanaian national applies for a visa, immigration permission, or residency status in a foreign country and the receiving authority requires notarized copies of identity documents, birth certificates, marriage certificates, or academic records issued by Ghanaian authorities.
The statement is needed when enforcing a Ghanaian court judgment abroad. A certified copy of a judgment of the High Court of Ghana, the Court of Appeal, or the Supreme Court bearing a Notary Public Certification Statement (and, where applicable, an Apostille) may be submitted to a foreign court for recognition and enforcement under the applicable bilateral treaty or the rules of the foreign jurisdiction.
The Notary Public Certification Statement is required when a Ghanaian bank or financial institution regulated by the Bank of Ghana (BoG) requires notarized documentation from a corporate customer as part of its Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) compliance procedures under the Anti-Money Laundering Act 2008 (Act 749).
The statement is also needed when a professional seeking registration or recognition of their qualifications abroad — for example, a Ghanaian doctor, nurse, engineer, or accountant — must submit notarized copies of their certificates from the Ghana Medical and Dental Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Ghana Institution of Engineers, or the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG) to a foreign licensing authority.
What to Include in Your Notary Public Certification Statement (Ghana)
The Notary Public Certification Statement (Ghana) under the Notaries Public Act 1960 (Act 26) must contain the following essential elements to constitute a valid notarial act.
Notary Public Identification: Full name, qualification as a legal practitioner enrolled with the Ghana Bar Association, year of call to the Bar, and Roll of Notaries number issued by the General Legal Council (GLC) under the Legal Profession Act 1960 (Act 32). The statement must confirm that the Notary Public is duly admitted and currently practising in Ghana.
Presenter Identification: Full name of the individual appearing before the Notary Public and the identity document produced — typically the National Identification Authority Ghana Card (GHA-XXXXXXXXX-X), Ghanaian passport, or DVLA driver's licence. Section 2 of the Notaries Public Act 1960 (Act 26) requires the Notary Public to verify the identity of the presenter personally.
Document Description: Precise description of the document being certified — its title, date, number of pages, and the issuing authority (if an official document). Where the document is a copy, the statement must confirm that the copy is a true and complete copy of the original document inspected by the Notary Public.
Type of Notarial Act: A clear statement of the specific notarial act performed — for example: (i) certification of a true copy; (ii) authentication of the signature of the presenter; (iii) witnessing execution of a deed; or (iv) administration of an oath or affirmation.
Purpose Statement: The purpose for which the Certification Statement is issued — for example, submission to a foreign embassy, registration at the Lands Commission, or use in international commercial proceedings.
Apostille Note: Where the document is intended for use in an Apostille Convention member state, a note that an Apostille must be obtained from the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration to complete the authentication chain.
Date, Seal, and Signature: The date of the notarial act, the official notarial seal of the Notary Public, and the manuscript signature of the Notary Public. The seal must clearly display the Notary Public's name and title.
Forms-legal.com provides this Notary Public Certification Statement template to assist Notaries Public and their clients in Ghana. The template should be adapted by a qualified Notary Public to reflect the specific notarial act performed and the requirements of the receiving jurisdiction.
Additional compliance elements for a Notary Public Certification Statement (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.
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Reference this free template in an article, syllabus, or research note:
Forms Legal. (2026). Notary Public Certification Statement (Ghana) (Ghana) [Legal document template]. Forms Legal. https://forms-legal.com/ghana/government/notarized/notary-public-certification-ghana
"Notary Public Certification Statement (Ghana) (Ghana)." Forms Legal, 2026, https://forms-legal.com/ghana/government/notarized/notary-public-certification-ghana.
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note = {Free legal document template}
}Frequently Asked Questions
Section 4 of the Notaries Public Act 1960 (Act 26) confers broad powers on a Notary Public in Ghana. A Ghanaian Notary Public may: authenticate and certify documents and instruments; certify true copies of original documents; administer oaths and affirmations; take statutory declarations; note and protest bills of exchange under the Bills of Exchange Act 1961 (Act 55); certify translations; and generally perform all notarial acts recognised under Ghanaian law and international practice. A Notary Public in Ghana is an officer of the Supreme Court and their certification carries official authority recognised domestically and internationally. Since Ghana's accession to the Apostille Convention in 2019, notarial acts performed by a Ghanaian Notary Public bearing an Apostille from the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration are accepted in all 124 Apostille Convention member states. The General Legal Council (GLC) regulates Notaries Public and may discipline or remove from the Roll a Notary Public who exceeds their powers or commits professional misconduct.
Qualified Notaries Public in Ghana are enrolled on the Roll of Notaries maintained by the General Legal Council (GLC) under the Legal Profession Act 1960 (Act 32). The Ghana Bar Association maintains a directory of practising Notaries Public in Ghana, searchable by region. Notaries Public are concentrated in Accra (Greater Accra Region) and Kumasi (Ashanti Region), but practising Notaries Public are also found in Takoradi (Western Region), Cape Coast (Central Region), Ho (Volta Region), Tamale (Northern Region), and other regional capitals. When selecting a Notary Public in Ghana, presenters should verify: that the practitioner is currently on the Roll of Notaries; that they are in good standing with the Ghana Bar Association; and that they have experience with the type of document to be notarized — particularly for international transactions requiring Apostille certification or consular legalisation. Fees should be confirmed in advance as they vary between practitioners.
A Notary Public Certification Statement in Ghana does not itself expire — the notarial act certified remains valid indefinitely as a record that the notarization occurred on the stated date. However, the usefulness of the notarized document depends on the requirements of the receiving authority. Many foreign embassies, government agencies, and commercial counterparties impose their own validity periods on notarized documents — typically three to twelve months from the date of notarization. For visa and immigration applications to countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Germany, supporting documents are generally required to be notarized within three to six months of the application date. For commercial transactions and property registrations before the Lands Commission of Ghana, there is no statutory validity period for notarized documents, but documents should be as current as practicable to avoid questions about changed circumstances. Presenters should confirm the specific validity requirements of the receiving authority before having documents notarized.
A Notary Public Certification Statement in Ghana is accepted in court proceedings both in Ghana and in foreign jurisdictions. For Ghanaian court proceedings before the High Court (Commercial Division), the High Court (Labour Division), the Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, a notarized document is admissible as evidence of the facts stated in the notarial certificate under the Evidence Act 1975 (NRCD 323). The Evidence Act 1975 provides that official documents — including notarial certificates — are admissible without further proof of authenticity unless the opposing party raises a specific objection. For foreign court proceedings, a notarized Ghanaian document bearing an Apostille from the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration is accepted in all Apostille Convention member states. For use in non-Convention states, the document must also be legalised by the relevant embassy in Accra. Parties submitting notarized documents to foreign courts should obtain legal advice on the specific evidentiary requirements of the foreign jurisdiction.
A notarial certificate issued by a Notary Public under the Notaries Public Act 1960 (Act 26) and an affidavit sworn before a Commissioner for Oaths under the Oaths Act 1972 (Act 427) serve different purposes in Ghana. A notarial certificate is issued by the Notary Public as an independent officer of the Supreme Court, certifying facts within the Notary's own knowledge — such as the authenticity of a signature, the identity of a presenter, or that a copy is a true copy of an original. The certificate reflects the Notary's official act. An affidavit is a sworn statement by the deponent (the individual swearing the affidavit) about facts within their own knowledge, witnessed by a Commissioner for Oaths. Affidavits are primarily used in domestic court proceedings in Ghana. For documents intended for use outside Ghana, a notarial certificate is almost always required rather than an affidavit, because notarial certificates carry international recognition under the Apostille Convention and bilateral treaties. Commissioners for Oaths in Ghana do not have the same international standing as Notaries Public.
Notarization of a straightforward document in Ghana — such as certifying a copy of a birth certificate, passport, or academic transcript — typically takes between thirty minutes and two hours from the time the presenter attends before the Notary Public, depending on the Notary's current caseload. Complex notarial acts — such as authenticating the execution of a deed of assignment or a power of attorney for international use — may take longer, particularly where the Notary Public must review the underlying transaction documents and prepare a bespoke notarial certificate. Where an Apostille is also required, the presenter must submit the notarized document to the Ghana Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, which typically takes three to five working days for standard processing and one working day for express processing, subject to applicable fees. Presenters in Accra and Kumasi generally have faster access to notarial services than those in more remote regions of Ghana, where fewer Notaries Public practise.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change over time. Consult a qualified attorney for advice specific to your situation.Full disclaimer
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