Affidavit of Name Change (Ghana)

An Affidavit of Name Change in Ghana records a sworn statement of fact that the deponent affirms to be true before an authorised official.

The Oaths Act 1972 (Act 418) governs the sworn statement component of the name change affidavit in Ghana. Section 1 of Act 418 provides that an oath may be administered to any person required or permitted by law to make a sworn statement. Section 4 of Act 418 permits affirmation in lieu of oath for persons with a conscientious objection. The Commissioners for Oaths Act 1962 (Act 119) authorises practising solicitors enrolled with the Ghana Bar Association to administer oaths and witness affidavits. A person who knowingly makes a false statement in a name change affidavit commits perjury under Section 210 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), which carries up to seven years' imprisonment.

Publication of an Affidavit of Name Change in the Ghana Gazette, the official government gazette published by the Ghana Publishing Corporation, has traditionally been required for a name change to have full legal effect against third parties. While statutory publication is not always mandatory for every administrative purpose, the Births and Deaths Registry Ghana, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) under the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573), and the Registrar-General's Department (operating under the Office of the Registrar of Companies) typically require or strongly prefer gazette publication for name changes. The Gazette Notice is the formal public record that a person has changed their name on a specified date.

An Affidavit of Name Change in Ghana must be distinguished from an Affidavit of Identity, which confirms that two existing name records refer to the same person without any new name being adopted. A name change affidavit is a forward-looking document — the deponent is saying "from this date, my name is [New Name] and I abandon [Former Name]" — whereas an identity affidavit is backward-looking, explaining that records already in existence all refer to the same individual.

Name changes in Ghana arise from several circumstances: reverting to or adopting a traditional Ghanaian name after using a colonial English name; taking a spouse's surname following a marriage registered under the Marriages Act 1884-1985 (Cap. 127) or a customary marriage under the Customary Marriage and Divorce (Registration) Act 1985 (PNDCL 112); separating from a spouse and reverting to a maiden name; or simply choosing a new name for personal, professional, or religious reasons. In each case, the Affidavit of Name Change is the primary instrument recognised by Ghanaian government agencies for effecting the change.

An Affidavit of Name Change in Ghana is required whenever a person formally adopts a new name and needs to update official records, and particularly in the following circumstances.

An Affidavit of Name Change is needed when a Ghanaian citizen wishes to update their Ghana Card at the National Identification Authority (NIA) to reflect a new name adopted for personal, religious, or cultural reasons, where a sworn affidavit and gazette publication are required supporting documents.

An Affidavit of Name Change is required when a person is reverting to their maiden name or a family name after separation from a spouse, where they need to update their Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) passport, Bank of Ghana-licensed bank accounts, and employment records at the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT).

An Affidavit of Name Change is needed when a Ghanaian national who has been using a colonial English name wishes to formally adopt their traditional Akan, Ga, Ewe, or Dagbani name as their legal name, to update all official records at the Births and Deaths Registry Ghana, NIA, and GIS.

An Affidavit of Name Change is required when a person wishes to use a professional or artistic name in legal contexts — such as registering a business under the Companies Act 2019 (Act 992) with the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC) under their new name.

An Affidavit of Name Change is needed when updating land title documents at the Lands Commission, where the title holder's name in the land register must match their current identity documents for any property transaction — sale, mortgage, or transfer — to proceed without challenge.

An Affidavit of Name Change is required when a Ghanaian professional — such as a solicitor enrolled with the Ghana Bar Association, a medical practitioner licensed by the Medical and Dental Council, or an accountant registered with the Institute of Chartered Accountants (Ghana) — needs to update their professional registration records to reflect a new name.

An Affidavit of Name Change is needed when a Ghanaian graduate needs to update academic records at the University of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), or another accredited institution, so that future transcripts and certificates reflect the new name consistently with current identity documents.

A valid Affidavit of Name Change in Ghana under the Oaths Act 1972 (Act 418) must contain the following essential elements.

Deponent's Former and New Names: The full former legal name as it appears in the deponent's existing identity documents — particularly the Ghana Card issued by the National Identification Authority (NIA) under the National Identity Register Act 2008 (Act 750) — and the full new name being adopted. Both names must be stated precisely, including middle names and any variation in spelling, to avoid ambiguity in future dealings.

Declaration of Abandonment and Adoption: The core sworn declaration that the deponent absolutely and entirely abandons their former name, that they adopt the new name in substitution for all purposes, and that they will at all times hereafter use the new name only. This form of words has been used in Ghana for many decades and is recognised by the Births and Deaths Registry Ghana, the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS), and other government agencies.

Reason for Name Change (optional but recommended): A brief statement of the reason for the name change — reversion to traditional name, post-marriage or post-divorce, religious conversion, professional adoption, or personal preference — which helps receiving institutions understand the context and is particularly useful for gazette publication purposes.

Date of Change: The specific date from which the new name is adopted, which establishes the effective date of the name change for all administrative and legal purposes in Ghana.

Direction to All Persons: A standard clause directing all persons — including government agencies, banks, employers, educational institutions, and professional bodies — to address and refer to the deponent exclusively by the new name from the date of the affidavit.

Exhibits: Copies of existing identity documents (Ghana Card, birth certificate, passport) showing the former name should be attached as exhibits, marked and initialled in accordance with standard affidavit procedure. The deponent's Ghana Card number (NIA) should be referenced in the body of the affidavit.

Gazette Publication: Where gazette publication is required for the name change to have full legal effect, the affidavit should note that the deponent intends to publish a Gazette Notice in the Ghana Gazette through the Ghana Publishing Corporation. The gazette notice should state the former name, the new name, the date of change, and the deponent's address.

Jurat: The completed jurat with the date and place of swearing, the name and signature of the Commissioner for Oaths or Justice of the Peace, and their official stamp. The deponent must appear in person and sign in the presence of the Commissioner for Oaths under the Oaths Act 1972 (Act 418) and the Commissioners for Oaths Act 1962 (Act 119). Forms-legal.com provides this Affidavit of Name Change template as a starting point for name change declarations in Ghana.

Additional compliance elements for a Affidavit of Name Change (Ghana) used in Ghana include: Under Ghanaian law, the Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843) and the Data Protection Commission govern personal data processing. The Marriages Act 1884-1985 (Cap. 127) and Marriages Ordinance (Cap. 127) govern civil marriages. The Intestate Succession Law 1985 (PNDC Law 111) overrides customary succession for specified relatives. The Courts Act 1993 (Act 459) governs court procedures. The Children's Act 1998 (Act 560) governs child welfare. Forms-legal.com provides this template as a starting point for Ghana-compliant documentation.