How to Apply for Change of Name in Ghana
There are several reasons why one might want to change his/her name. Some could change names due to marriage, or any other personal reason. In this guide, we’ll take you through the whole process of applying for change of name in Ghana.
Before you can change your name, you need a legal backing that will attest to that. This legal document validates all documents bearing your former name. In fact, without this document, all other document bearing your former name remains invalid.
Before we go to the procedures of change of name in Ghana, let’s take a look at possible reasons why people change names.
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Possible Reasons Why People Change Their Names
There are several reasons why people choose to change their names. However, we’ll name but a few tangible reasons why people want to change their names.
- Dislike Current Name
- Marriage
- Changing Name Following Divorce
- Changing Child’s Surname to Mother’s or Father’s
- A desire for a Less or More “Ethnic” Name
- Transgender Name Changes
- Religious Reasons
- Political Statement
Having said that, let’s now take a look at the whole process involved in applying for a change of name in Ghana.
How to Apply for Change of Name in Ghana
Change of name in Ghana cannot be done by proxy, you need to apply in person. Just follow the steps outlined below.
- Approach any Ghanaian court to begin the process.
- Make an application in writing to the Minister of Justice giving sufficient reasons why you want to make the change. Documents should be submitted with the following documents (see below).
- You are then to swear to an Affidavit of Change of Name (Deed Pool) before the Commission of Oaths, in the Ghanaian court. The affidavit should say that you have changed from your old name and wish to be known by your new name, and you show your affidavit anywhere you want to present any documentation in your old name. The affidavit is a statutory declaration recording your intention to abandon your old name and adopt a new one.
- Once this is done, go to the Office of the Judicial Secretary, where the affidavit is signed/ endorsed.
- Take your documents to Assembly Press, Accra city center, and put in your application. You will be given a form to fill and asked to return within a time frame.
- Your name change will be published in a Ghanaian gazette. You will be given copies of the gazette for your records when you return. There will be a section in it that will state your new name, and also states that documents with your old name are still valid.Â
- The final step is applying for new government documents reflecting your new acquired name. This can only be done once the new name is published in the Ghana newspapers. A copy of the newspaper has to be attached to the application documents for the new documents.
Required Documents for Change of Name in Ghana
You’ll need the following documents in order to apply for a change of name in Ghana.
- Application letter addressed to the Minister of Justice
- A deed poll/ affidavit for the name change signed by a commissioner of oaths or notary public.
- Two passport photographs (for a new identity document) [birth certificate/passport /Â national ID (Ghana card)].
- Your Identity document with your current name(s) and surname, (which you will surrender)
- A letter stating sufficient reasons for changing your name in writing.
- Marriage certificate (Men are not required to submit marriage certificate.)
- A filing fee of GHS 250.
Processing Time for Change of Name in Ghana
Once your documents are complete, it will take between 14 to 21 days for your change of name to be effected.
Please my BECE certificate has my month of birth wrong so during wassce registration I was asked to bring my BECE certificate abd it was used so it still the same on the wassce certificate as well. I also made some changes to my name which are on my ID cards but not on my exam certificates. Please what should I do?
Please my BECE certificate has my month of birth wrong so during wassce registration I was asked to bring my BECE certificate abd it was used so it still the same on the wassce certificate as well. I also made some changes to my name which are on my ID cards but not on my exam certificates. Please what should I do?
Which office should I go to in Accra to apply for the change of name ? I’m at Tema community 16..
Both my jhs and shs has the same name
But both my birth certificate and voters ID bears my new name
What should I do please
Please my name was spelt wrongly on my WASSCE certificate which makes it different from my real name on other documents ,what should I do please
You will have to swear an affidavit to state clearly the which one is the correct name.
Please after completing all the processes of name changing do I need to apply for new certificates with the new name or just attach the affidavit to the old name wherever I go?
You attach the affidavit to the old name wherever you go
Plss I used another name on my wassce but all my documents uses my own name what should I do
I have completed both jhs and shs with different names and a new name on my national identification card, can I swear an affidavit that will cover my certificates with my new name on my ID card
I changed my name during the new voters registration and Ghana card registration. And l have a different name on my wassce results. What do l do now please
Please I want to remove my child middle name and I have already use it for his passport and other documents how do I remove or change it
MY BECE ,WACE AND HND CERTIFICATE has the same name on it but my ID cards has different name and date of birth on it not as on the certificate
Please what should I do ?
You need to swear an affidavit to attest that the two documents belongs to you
Please I went to school for my certificate and the gender on it is male instead of female
How do I change it
Please all my documents bear’s my full name justice Kofi Danso except my school certificate that has justice Danso. What do I do, do I need to swear affidavits for Kofi.
You need to swear an affidavit that the document bearing Justice Danso truly belongs to Justice Kofi Danso.
Please i have two wassce certificates but that names does not tally my birth certificate. So in all i have three different names what should I do.
You will need to swear an affidavit attesting that will cover all of them
I completed basic school and shs a name different from the one on my birth certificate and other national documents.
Now I want to further my education with the name on my birth certificate.
What do I need to do.
Can one apply on line? And mood of payment
Will you be able to create another National IDs with your new name?
Please I don’t have my birth certificate but am having a valid national ID card so can I submit them as my documents
I’ve completed shs using my old name but I’m having my new name on all my ID cards without swearing an affidavit. Please what should do.
You’ll need to swear an affidavit to validate all documents bearing your former name.
Please can I still change my name after university education
Please, I used my new name without swearing an affidavit in shs. Will it affect me, now that I want to swear an affidavit?
How much does it cost?
I am in shs and 17 years of age, i dislike my name and can i change it in the school?
that should be your first step since you haven’t completed yet. let your head master be aware of it by writing a letter to him
. use your new name to write your final examination then when you graduate from shs, you can use that result as one of your documents that bears ur new name which will help in the process of changing ur name on ur birth certificate.
Please I have been using my new name since I entered senior high and now into the university, right now I wanna travel so I’ve to do affidavit of my new name , please how fast can it be and can i apply online ? Thank you hope you reply soon .
You can’t do it online. Just work to the nearest court in your district and apply for an affidavit for change of name.
I want change of name with high court seal on top to be used at Barclay’s bank how will I ho about the whole process and after that I want gazette also
Please if I have my affidavit and my new name is published in the Daily Graphic, do I still need to gazette the name?
its the same thing, i think