Affidavit of Support (Ghana)

An Affidavit of Support in Ghana confirms specified facts through a signed declaration sworn before a commissioner for oaths or notary.

The Oaths Act 1972 (Act 418) provides the legal framework for sworn statements in Ghana. Section 1 of Act 418 permits oaths to be administered to any person required or permitted by law to make a sworn statement, binding on the deponent's conscience regardless of religious denomination. Section 4 of Act 418 allows affirmation in lieu of oath for persons with a conscientious objection. The Commissioners for Oaths Act 1962 (Act 119) empowers solicitors enrolled with the Ghana Bar Association and other appointed persons to administer oaths and witness affidavits in Ghana. A false statement in an Affidavit of Support constitutes perjury under Section 210 of the Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), carrying a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment.

The financial capacity of the sponsor is the central element of an Affidavit of Support in Ghana, and most foreign embassies and consulates in Accra require the affidavit to be supported by documentary evidence of the sponsor's financial means — including bank statements from a bank licensed by the Bank of Ghana, payslips from an employer, business registration documents from the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC), or a tax clearance certificate from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) under the Income Tax Act 2015 (Act 896). The Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 843), administered by the Data Protection Commission of Ghana, governs the sharing of financial information provided in an Affidavit of Support.

An Affidavit of Support in Ghana must be distinguished from an Affidavit of Residence, which confirms only the deponent's own residential address without assuming financial responsibility for another person, and from a letter of invitation or letter of guarantee, which is a non-sworn statement that does not carry the same legal weight as a sworn affidavit. Many foreign embassies in Accra — including the British High Commission, United States Embassy, and Schengen area embassies — specifically require a sworn Affidavit of Support rather than an unsworn letter, because the sworn document carries the sanction of perjury under Ghanaian law.

Where the beneficiary of an Affidavit of Support is a minor under the age of 18, the affidavit must be sworn by the child's parent or legal guardian, and should confirm the nature of the sponsor's relationship to the child and any applicable custody or parental responsibility arrangements under the Children's Act 1998 (Act 560). Where the child is travelling with only one parent, both an Affidavit of Support and a consent to travel from the absent parent may be required by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) under the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573) and by the destination country's immigration authority.

An Affidavit of Support in Ghana is required in the following circumstances where a sponsor needs to formally declare financial responsibility for a named beneficiary.

An Affidavit of Support is needed when a Ghanaian family member or friend sponsors a visa applicant attending a foreign embassy in Accra — such as the British High Commission, United States Embassy, German Embassy, or Schengen area embassies — where the embassy requires the sponsor to formally declare financial support for the duration of the intended visit.

An Affidavit of Support is required when a parent or guardian sponsors a student's application to a foreign university or educational institution, confirming that the sponsor will meet all tuition fees, accommodation costs, and living expenses during the student's course of study.

An Affidavit of Support is needed when a Ghanaian employer or business owner supports a conference visa application for a foreign colleague or associate attending an event in Ghana, confirming that the company will cover all expenses during the visit.

An Affidavit of Support is required when a Ghanaian citizen abroad — for example, a Ghanaian national with permanent residency in the United Kingdom or Canada — sponsors a family member's visa application to visit them, where the foreign immigration authority requires a sworn declaration from the sponsor in Ghana or the sponsor swears the document before a Notary Public abroad for submission to the Ghanaian consulate.

An Affidavit of Support is needed when a parent or legal guardian sponsors a minor child's participation in an international school exchange programme, sports competition, or youth leadership programme, confirming financial responsibility and providing emergency contact information.

An Affidavit of Support is required when a Ghanaian scholarship body, NGO, or faith-based organisation sponsors a beneficiary's travel abroad for training, capacity building, or humanitarian work, to satisfy the destination country's immigration authority that the beneficiary has adequate financial backing.

An Affidavit of Support is needed when a Ghanaian national returning from abroad brings a foreign national to Ghana and is asked by the Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) to confirm financial responsibility for the visitor during their stay in Ghana under the Immigration Act 2000 (Act 573) and the Ghana Immigration Service Regulations 2012 (L.I. 2016).

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

Sponsor's Full Identity and Financial Standing: The sponsor's full legal name, Ghana Card number (issued by the National Identification Authority under the National Identity Register Act 2008 (Act 750)), date of birth, occupation, employer's name and address, and residential address in Ghana. The sponsor's GRA Tax Identification Number (TIN) issued by the Ghana Revenue Authority is increasingly required by foreign embassies. The sponsor's financial standing — monthly income, bank account details at a Bank of Ghana-licensed institution — is the foundation of the affidavit's credibility.

Beneficiary's Full Identity: The full name, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and relationship to the sponsor of the person being supported. The relationship must be accurately described — parent, sibling, spouse, child, friend, colleague — as foreign embassies verify the stated relationship against other documents in the visa application.

Nature and Period of Support: A clear statement of the type of financial support being provided (travel costs, accommodation, daily living expenses, tuition fees, or all of the above) and the period during which support is being offered — for example, "for the period of [Beneficiary Name]'s proposed visit to the United Kingdom from [Start Date] to [End Date]." Vague or open-ended commitments may be queried by foreign embassies.

Financial Capacity Evidence: A statement of the financial resources available to the sponsor, with reference to the supporting documents attached as exhibits — for example, bank statements from GCB Bank Limited or Ecobank Ghana for the preceding three to six months, payslips from a Ghanaian employer, or audited accounts for a business registered with the Office of the Registrar of Companies (ORC). Exhibits are marked with the sponsor's initials and sequential numbers.

Sponsor's Undertaking: An express undertaking by the sponsor to meet all costs of the beneficiary during the stated period, to confirm the beneficiary complies with the conditions of their visa or entry permit, and to be responsible for the beneficiary's repatriation to Ghana in the event of any emergency.

Relationship Confirmation: Where the sponsor and beneficiary are related, a statement of the nature of the family relationship and, where relevant, the household's composition. Where the relationship is non-familial — such as an employer sponsoring an employee's conference attendance — the professional relationship should be described.

Jurat and Commissioner's Details: The completed jurat with the date and place of swearing, the name, signature, and official stamp of the Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public authorised under the Notaries Public Act 1964 (Act 240). The sponsor must appear in person and sign the affidavit in the presence of the Commissioner for Oaths under the Oaths Act 1972 (Act 418). Forms-legal.com provides this Affidavit of Support template as a starting point for financial sponsorship declarations in Ghana.

Additional compliance elements for a Affidavit of Support (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.