A Healthier View of Fatherhood in Ghana

Samuel playing with the last born of his nine children.

“I sing, read stories and do interactive activities with my family now. We even have a family meeting every Saturday night after supper to talk about our challenges and the responsibilities on our farm.”

– Samuel

In the rural community of Nkonya in the western North Region of Ghana, men are supporting each other on a journey towards building healthier family relationships.

Samuel is a smallholder cocoa and rice farmer. Together with his wife, Angelina, they are raising nine children, three of whom are under five. Their home once mirrored the traditional structure Samuel grew up in—where roles were strictly defined, fathers were distant and the weight of caregiving fell heavily on mothers.

Parents Samuel and Angelina with seven of their children.
Parents Samuel and Angelina with seven of their children.

“I grew up in a large family,” he recalls. “My father had four wives and 30 children. My mother was the second wife and had 13 children. My father did not play any active role in our upbringing. Each woman cared for her own children. I started doing all kinds of menial work as a teenager to meet my needs.”

Without a model of involved fatherhood, Samuel’s early years as a parent followed a similar pattern. “I did not spend much time with my family nor support my wife with household chores. I thought those activities were solely for women and did not care much about it.” 

“…now he’s a model for others. He plays with his children now, listens to them and supports their education.”

– Simon, ECD Project Officer 

Everything began to shift 18 months ago when his wife Angelina enrolled in Episocpal Relief & Development and Anglican Diocesan Development and Relief Organization’s (ADDRO) Moments That Matter ® (MTM) program partnership. MTM is an Early Childhood Development (ECD) program that supports the healthy development of children ages 0 to 3 by engaging parents and caregivers with tools for more impactful nurturing through play, nutrition, reading and other activities. 

A group of three people sitting on a bench against a brick wall. The person on the left wears a cap and blue shirt, the middle person wears a patterned shirt, and the person on the right wears a colorful dress, all smiling warmly.Project Officer with Samuel and Angelina.jpg
ECD Volunteer Simon, left, with Samuel, center, and Angelina, right.

Encouraged by his wife and inspired by Simon, a church elder and ECD volunteer, Samuel joined a Caregivers Support and Learning Group.

“Simon is very respected in his church and the community,” Samuel said. “He is a role model for most of the men in this community, so when I saw him leading, I decided to join.” 

Samuel and his wife Angelina are part of an MTM approach that focuses on creating harmonious relationships within families and fostering economic stability. 

Angelina has felt the change deeply. “I feel loved now. My husband is more caring, supportive, and he helps with household work. Before, he didn’t value our daughters’ education. Now, he supports all our children equally.”

Thanks to his journey, Angelina is now an active participant in a savings group, something Samuel proudly supports. 

Simon, the ECD promoter who mentored Samuel, adds, “He was hesitant at first, but now he’s a model for others. He plays with his children now, listens to them and supports their education. That gives me hope—not just for his children, but for other fathers who are watching and learning from him.”

Home visits and one-on-one discussions have been particularly meaningful for Samuel. “They give me the privacy to ask questions and learn how to handle family matters better,” he said. “The conversations have changed my perspective on some issues and have really made me a better husband and father.” 

The impact is spreading. Samuel says that more men in the community are starting to show affection and participate in household chores. Samuel has even become an advocate among his peers, helping them to build strong families.  

“I sing, read stories and do interactive activities with my family now,” he said. “We even have a family meeting every Saturday night after supper to talk about our challenges and the responsibilities on our farm.” 

Despite the challenges of raising nine children, Samuel is hopeful. “My children trust me now. When I can’t provide something, they understand. There’s love and peace in our home, and they know I’m doing my best.”

Learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development’s integrated Early Childhood Development program partnership, Moments That Matter ®.