How to Legally Change Your Name in Ghana: Deed Poll, Affidavit and Gazette Explained

Changing your name in Ghana is not a matter of preference or usage. It is a formal legal process with two mandatory pillars: a sworn affidavit or Deed Poll, and publication in the Ghana Gazette. Without the Gazette, your new name has no legal standing. You cannot use it on your Ghana Card, passport, bank accounts, or any official document. Here is the complete process, the costs, and the critical distinction between an affidavit and a Deed Poll.

The Core Rule: Gazette or Nothing

The National Identification Authority is explicit. For a change of name, the applicant must present a Gazette Notification confirming the name change. Affidavits will not be accepted .

This means that no matter how many affidavits you swear, or how many people know you by your new name, it is not legally changed until it is published in the Ghana Gazette. The UK government’s official Ghana profile confirms the same: a person must swear an affidavit before the Commission of Oaths in court, and the name change must then be announced publicly in the Ghana Gazette .

The Deed Poll and Gazette notice together serve as legal proof of your name change in Ghana .

Affidavit vs Deed Poll: What Is the Difference?

The terminology can be confusing, and different sources use the terms differently. Here is the practical distinction.

The Affidavit (or Statutory Declaration) is the sworn statement you make before a Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public. It declares your current name, your new name, and your intention to renounce the old name. The Swiss Embassy in Accra describes the first step as swearing an affidavit before a Commissioner of Oaths at a Ghanaian court . The UK government profile describes the same step.

The Deed Poll is the formal legal document that results from that sworn declaration. It is what you submit to the Ghana Publishing Company for Gazette publication. 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 .

In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably. What matters is that you have a sworn, witnessed legal document declaring the change—and that you publish it in the Gazette.

Step 1: Swear the Affidavit / Prepare the Deed Poll

You must appear before a Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public to swear your declaration. This can be done at a Ghanaian court .

The document should include:

• Your current name and your new name

• A statement renouncing your old name

• Your signature and the date

• Signatures of witnesses

You can draft the document yourself or have a lawyer prepare it. A lawyer ensures the document is properly drafted and legally enforceable, reducing the risk of rejection at the Assembly Press .

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 publisher.

Where to Submit

You submit your documents to the Assembly Press in Accra. The required documents are :

• The original Deed Poll or sworn affidavit

• A formal letter requesting publication

• A photocopy of your valid ID

The New E-Gazette Platform

The Ghana Publishing Company has introduced an e-Gazette platform that allows applicants 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 .

The platform is designed to reduce the risk of being swindled by “goro boys” or supposed middlemen. There is only one authentic national Gazette, and it is published by the Ghana Publishing Company Limited.

Processing Times and Fees

The Ghana Publishing Company introduced new processing tiers and fees in April 2025 :

The overall process, from affidavit to Gazette, typically takes 2 to 8 weeks, depending on the service level chosen .

Step 3: Update Your Official Records

Once your new name is gazetted, you must update every official document that carries your old name.

Ghana Card

The NIA requires the Gazette Notification to process a change of name. You must visit an NIA Registration Office with the Gazette and any other supporting documents they request .

The NIA’s older fee notice lists a GH¢30.00 fee for updates that change the information printed on the face of the card, including change or correction of name. Payment must be made via CalBank, the USSD code *771#, or the CalBank App. The NIA does not accept cash . Fee schedules are subject to change, so confirm the current amount at the office.

Passport

For a biometric passport, the Ghana Embassy in Berlin lists the following requirements for a change of name :

• Copy of passport

• Affidavit from Ghana for change of name

• Gazette from Ghana for change of name

• Printed copy of the online application form

• Attestation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ghana)

• Payment

• A police clearance certificate for a complete change of name

The requirement for a police clearance certificate is specific to a complete change of name—it does not apply to a simple correction of spelling.

SSNIT and Other Records

You should also update your SSNIT records, bank accounts, voter’s ID, driver’s licence, and any other official documents. The Deed Poll and Gazette notice serve as your proof of the change .

Name Changes After Marriage or Divorce

If your name change is related to marriage or divorce, the process remains the same but includes additional supporting documents .

After marriage: Your marriage certificate serves as proof of your new surname. However, to reflect the change across all official records, you must still complete the affidavit/Deed Poll and Gazette process.

After divorce: You will need your divorce decree absolute, a Deed Poll reverting to your previous name, and Gazette publication to make it official.

A Special Note for Children

The law provides a simpler route for changing a child’s name within twelve months of birth registration. Under the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, a parent or guardian can deliver a certificate stating the new name to the Registrar, who will enter it in the register without erasing the original entry. After twelve months, the standard Deed Poll and Gazette process applies .

What You Cannot Do

You cannot use an affidavit alone. The NIA explicitly states that affidavits will not be accepted for a change of name. The Gazette is mandatory .

You cannot skip the Gazette and update your Ghana Card. The NIA will not process a name change without the Gazette Notification .

You cannot change your name on your birth certificate without a Gazette. The Births and Deaths Registry follows the same standard.

Quick Facts

Last Updated on October 25, 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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