The Changing Roles of Fathers in Parenting in Ghana

Abstract

As it is known in most part of the world, families has been basically patriarchal. So has it been in Ghana over the years. Men has possessed and exercised authority in family and marriages. Fathers were seen as people with power and influence in the family setting who are able to make their family do what they wanted them to do. Though fathers were noted to be responsible care takers of their families both economically and psychologically, fathers now have different roles depending on the economic capabilities, the economic powers of their wives and the kind of employment that they are engage in. This paper highlights the importance of fathers in the Ghanaian family setting, the need for parental framework for parenting and the challenges of contemporarily fathers. Literature reviewed indicates that, through voluntary affirmative action campaign championed by Ghana’s National Council for Women and Development (NCWD) from the early nineties and the 31^st December Women Movement (An NGO). It also revealed that, there are various organisations and institutions as well as individuals who wish to see that fathers do more than just being economic, social and emotional care givers to protecting their children from social vices and challenges that fathers can do. The paper suggests a comprehensive training for young men who wish to be fathers to acquire skills in parenting and fathering as a whole.