How to Correct a Birth Certificate in Ghana: Name Changes and Date of Birth Errors

A birth certificate is the foundation of your legal identity. When it contains an error—a misspelled name, a wrong date of birth, or a name you no longer use—the consequences ripple through every official document you hold. Correcting it is not a simple matter of asking the registry to change a line. In Ghana, the process depends on what you are correcting, and for name changes, it involves a legal procedure that goes beyond the Births and Deaths Registry itself.

The Two Different Problems: Errors vs. Changes

Before you begin, you need to understand the distinction.

Correcting an error means fixing a mistake that was made during registration—a typo in your name, a wrong date that was recorded incorrectly. This is handled through the Births and Deaths Registry (BDR), which has the power to effect “corrections and insertions in the Registers upon request” .

Changing your name is a different matter. If you want to adopt a new name—whether after marriage, for religious reasons, or for personal preference—the BDR cannot simply alter your certificate. You need a legal name change, which involves a Deed Poll and publication in the Ghana Gazette. Only after the name is gazetted can you approach the BDR to update your birth certificate.

The distinction matters because the processes, costs, and timelines are different.

Part 1: Correcting an Error on Your Birth Certificate

What Counts as an Error

Errors include a misspelled name, a wrong date of birth that was recorded in error, a wrong place of birth, or incorrect parental details. The BDR’s core functions explicitly include “effecting corrections and insertions in the Registers upon request” .

How to Apply

You must visit a Births and Deaths Registry office. The BDR has not published a detailed online guide for corrections, but the general procedure involves:

Step 1: Identify the error. Bring your existing birth certificate and any supporting documents that prove the correct information—your Ghana Card, passport, school certificates, or a hospital weighing card.

Step 2: Complete an application. The Registration Officer will guide you through the required forms. You may need to swear an affidavit stating the correct details and the nature of the error.

Step 3: Pay the prescribed fee. The BDR charges a fee for corrections. The exact amount varies depending on the nature of the correction and is not consistently published online. Confirm the fee at the office before you pay.

Step 4: Await approval. The correction is reviewed and, if approved, the register is amended. A new certificate reflecting the correction may be issued.

Important: The BDR’s capacity to correct errors is limited. It can fix mistakes, but it cannot change a date of birth to a completely different date or alter fundamental facts that were correctly recorded. If the change you want is substantive—not a correction of a clerical error—you may need a statutory declaration or a court process.

Part 2: Changing Your Name on Your Birth Certificate

The Legal Reality

A name change in Ghana is not completed by informing the BDR. It is a formal legal process that requires two steps: a Deed Poll and publication in the Ghana Gazette . Only after the name has been gazetted can you use it on official documents, including your birth certificate, Ghana Card, and passport.

Step 1: Prepare a Deed Poll

A Deed Poll is a formal legal document declaring your decision to use a new name. It can be prepared by a lawyer or drafted personally and signed before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public. A valid Deed Poll should include your current name and new name, a statement renouncing the old name, your signature and date, and signatures of witnesses .

For a child’s name change, the parent or guardian can handle the process. Under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, a parent or guardian may change a child’s name within twelve months of registration by delivering a certificate stating the new name to the Registrar . After twelve months, the standard Deed Poll and Gazette process applies.

Step 2: Publish in the Ghana Gazette

The Gazette is the official government publication that serves as public notice of legal changes. The Ghana Publishing Company Limited is the sole publisher of the authentic national Gazette.

You can now apply for a Gazette through the e-Gazette platform, which allows you to apply from anywhere, upload documents, and pay online. This replaced the old system where applicants had to travel to Accra or Kumasi or use a post office .

What to submit:

• The original Deed Poll

• A formal letter requesting publication

• A photocopy of your valid ID

The process typically takes 2 to 8 weeks, depending on how quickly the Gazette notice is processed .

Step 3: Update Your Birth Certificate

Once your name is gazetted, you can approach the Births and Deaths Registry to have your birth certificate updated. The Gazette notification serves as legal proof of the name change. You will need to present the Gazette publication and your Deed Poll to the BDR.

What About Marriage?

If you are changing your name after marriage, your marriage certificate serves as proof of your new surname. However, to reflect the change on your birth certificate and other official records, you must still complete the Deed Poll and Gazette process .

Part 3: Correcting a Date of Birth

The Most Difficult Correction

A date of birth correction is more complex than a name spelling error because it changes a fundamental fact of identity. The BDR will only correct a date of birth if it was wrongly captured during registration, not if you simply want to change it.

The Process

You must provide documentary evidence of the correct date. The strongest evidence is the hospital weighing card or maternal health record book from your birth. If these are unavailable, a baptismal certificate, school records, or a statutory declaration may be considered.

For Ghanaians abroad, the process often requires a Gazette notification as part of the documentation. The University of Ghana, for example, requires a Gazette Notification, Ghana Card, Police Clearance Certificate, and the original source document (birth certificate, hospital weighing card, or BECE/WASSCE certificate) for date of birth amendments.

If the BDR is satisfied with the evidence, the register is amended and a new certificate is issued. If the evidence is insufficient, the application may be declined.

The Cost and Timeline

The cost of correcting a birth certificate varies depending on the nature of the correction and the office. The BDR has not published a comprehensive fee schedule for corrections. For Gazette publication, the cost depends on the Ghana Publishing Company’s rates. The total process for a name change typically takes 2 to 8 weeks .

For corrections that do not require a Gazette—such as a simple spelling error—the process is faster and cheaper, often completed within 5 to 7 working days at the district level.

Quick Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How do I correct a spelling mistake on my birth certificate?
Visit a Births and Deaths Registry office with your existing certificate and supporting documents (Ghana Card, passport, or hospital record). The BDR can effect corrections in the register upon request .

2. Can I change my name on my birth certificate without a Gazette?
No. A legal name change in Ghana requires a Deed Poll and publication in the Ghana Gazette. Only after gazetting can the BDR update your birth certificate .

3. How do I apply for a Gazette for a name change?
You can apply through the e-Gazette platform or at the Ghana Publishing Company office in Accra or Kumasi. Submit your Deed Poll, a formal request letter, and a copy of your ID .

4. How long does a name change take in Ghana?
The Gazette publication typically takes 2 to 8 weeks. After that, you can update your birth certificate and other documents .

5. Can I correct my date of birth on my birth certificate?
The BDR will only correct a date of birth if it was wrongly captured during registration. You need strong evidence, such as a hospital weighing card or maternal health record book.

6. What is a Deed Poll?
A Deed Poll is a legal document declaring your decision to use a new name. It is signed before a Commissioner for Oaths or Notary Public and serves as the basis for Gazette publication .

7. Can I change my child’s name on their birth certificate?
Yes. Within 12 months of registration, a parent or guardian can deliver a certificate stating the new name to the Registrar . After 12 months, the standard Deed Poll and Gazette process applies.

8. How much does it cost to correct a birth certificate?
The BDR charges a prescribed fee for corrections. The exact amount varies and is not consistently published. Confirm the fee at your local BDR office. Gazette publication has separate fees from the Ghana Publishing Company.

Source: Accra Street Journal 

Last Updated on October 23, 2026 by Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu

Samuel Kwame Boadu is a Ghanaian media entrepreneur and storyteller with a passion for amplifying urban voices and uncovering everyday truths. He is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Accra Street Journal, a dynamic digital platform dedicated to capturing the pulse of Ghana’s capital—its people, culture, challenges, business, sports and innovations.

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