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The short answer
Sign the power of attorney in front of a notary public in Ghana, since a Nigerian legal guide notes that a power of attorney executed outside Nigeria must be witnessed by a notary public, a judge or a magistrate. Then have the notarisation certified through Ghana's Judicial Service and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs if the receiving office wants it, and once it reaches Nigeria pay stamp duty under state law and, for land, register it, because an unregistered registrable instrument is not admissible as evidence.
A power of attorney (POA) lets someone in Nigeria act for you: sell or let a property, deal with a bank, collect documents or run a court case. Signed in Ghana, it has to survive two tests: it must be properly executed where you sign it, and it must be accepted by whoever relies on it in Nigeria. Both are about procedure, and both are easy to get wrong.
Step 1: draft it for its purpose
Decide exactly what the attorney may do. A general POA covers many acts; a specific one covers, for example, the sale of one plot described by its title documents. Banks and land registries are more comfortable with specific powers. Have a Nigerian lawyer draft or review the wording, because the document will be read under Nigerian law. This is information, not legal advice.
Step 2: sign before a notary in Ghana
LawPavilion's guide to POAs in Nigeria states that a POA executed outside Nigeria "must be witnessed by either a Notary Public or a Judge or Magistrate". In Ghana, notaries operate under the Judicial Service. Take:
- the unsigned POA, with spaces for your signature and the notary's attestation;
- your passport (and Ghana Card if you hold one), with copies;
- any document the POA refers to, such as a title deed copy, so the notary can see what you are signing about.
Sign only in the notary's presence. The notary will add an attestation, seal and signature.
Step 3: certification in Ghana, if needed
Some Nigerian offices accept a Ghanaian notarised POA as it is; others want proof that the notary is genuine. The usual chain in Ghana, as set out on the Embassy of Mexico in Ghana's legalisation page, is certification of the document by the Judicial Service of Ghana, then by the Legal and Consular Bureau of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Neither Ghana nor Nigeria appears as a party on the Hague Apostille Convention status table, so an apostille is not the route here.
The Nigeria High Commission in Accra does not list a document attestation service on its website (its "Document Verification" link leads nowhere), so if a Nigerian bank or registry asks for consular attestation, email the High Commission to ask whether and how it does this. Notarising a document in Ghana for Nigeria covers the certification chain in more detail.
Step 4: stamping and registration in Nigeria
LawPavilion notes that a POA attracts a fixed stamp duty under state laws, that a POA relating to land is registrable under the state Land Instruments Registration Law, that stamping comes before registration, and that an unregistered registrable instrument is inadmissible in evidence. In practice:
- Send the original to your attorney or lawyer in Nigeria by courier.
- They present it for stamping at the state stamp duties office.
- If it concerns land, they register it at the state land registry.
- Keep certified copies of the stamped and registered document.
Revoking it later
LawPavilion notes that a POA can be revoked expressly, impliedly or by operation of law, that a POA made by deed is revoked by deed, and that granting a second POA does not of itself revoke the first. If you change attorney, revoke the old POA formally and tell everyone who relied on it. Revoking a power of attorney from abroad sets out the steps.
Risks to manage
- Too wide a power. A general POA over property is the most common tool in Nigerian land fraud. Limit it to what is needed.
- No end date. Consider stating when the POA expires.
- Unclear identity of the property. Describe it by its title and survey details.
- Originals in the wrong hands. Courier to your lawyer, not to a middleman.
Buying or selling land from Ghana? Read buying land in Lagos from Ghana safely and the general guide on whether a POA signed abroad is valid in Nigeria.
Who should be your attorney
Choose someone you would trust with the asset itself, because legally that is what you are doing. A spouse, sibling or long-standing lawyer is usual. Avoid naming an estate agent or buyer as your attorney for a sale they benefit from. If the job is complex, consider two attorneys who must act jointly, so that one cannot sell or borrow without the other.
What to check first
- Specific, dated wording reviewed by a Nigerian lawyer.
- Signed in front of a Ghanaian notary.
- Whether the Nigerian recipient needs Judicial Service and MFA certification.
- Stamping and registration arranged in the right state.
Questions people ask
Is a power of attorney signed in Ghana valid in Nigeria?
It can be, if properly executed. A POA signed outside Nigeria should be witnessed by a notary public, judge or magistrate, then stamped in Nigeria, and registered if it concerns land.
Can I get an apostille in Ghana for Nigeria?
Neither Ghana nor Nigeria is listed as a party on the Apostille Convention status table, so documents go through notarisation and certification instead.
Does the Nigeria High Commission in Accra attest documents?
Its website lists no attestation service for POAs. Email the High Commission to ask before relying on it.
Do I need to register the power of attorney?
If it concerns land, yes. LawPavilion notes that stamping precedes registration and an unregistered registrable instrument is inadmissible.
Sources
- LawPavilion: Power of attorney in Nigeria, the law, the power and the practice · accessed Oct 2026
- Embassy of Mexico in Ghana: legalisation of documents (updated 23 Dec 2022) · accessed Oct 2026
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table · accessed Oct 2026
- Nigeria High Commission Accra: official website · accessed Oct 2026
This article is general information, not financial, legal or tax advice. Products described are provided under the terms on this site and are subject to regulation and eligibility.