PARENTHOOD
In Africa and other parts of the world, the birth of a new child brings joy to the parents especially, the mother, the family and the community at large. At this time, many people turn to forget about the responsibilities attached to this birth, that is parenthood.
Parenthood is a whole responsibility on its own. However, in our dispensation, some people do not see it as a serious business. As a result, such people do not attach the needed seriousness to it and therefore fail woefully in their responsibilities as parents; leading to child neglect. This issue of parenthood has become an issue of concern to most governments, the United Nations Organisations (UNO), and other international organisations- thus, necessitating the UNO to enact laws concerning parenthood. Parenthood faces some limitations making it difficult for some parents to fail in their quest to execute these responsibilities. In this discourse, we shall look at some of the challenges facing parenthood in Africa and especially, Ghana.
Before we go on with our discussion, let us first look at the meaning of parenthood. The sixth edition of the Oxford English Dictionary defines Parenthood as “the state of being a parent: the responsibilities and the joys of parenthood.” In summary, ‘parenthood is the act of taking up the responsibility of catering for a child or children being it biological or adopted. Nonetheless, there are three main challenges facing parenthood in Ghana and Africa as a whole. These are poverty, immaturity and some African tradition and culture.
One major constraint militating against parenthood in Ghana is poverty. In as much as many people especially men have the desire to provide for their wards the basic necessities of life such as food, clothing , shelter, good education, good health and so on, the economic situation in the country do not allow them to execute their duties as fathers to the latter. In view of this economic situation, some men sheck their duties as fathers just as they assume these responsibilities or some where along the way: leaving the mothers to shoulder these responsibilities all alone. So in Ghana, because most men sheck their responsibilities as fathers, one is tempted to believe that parenthood is the sole duty of women. This is because these women go all out to give their all to their children to see to it that they have the best in life doing all kinds of menial jobs.
Again, immaturity on the part of some parents is another challenge affecting parenthood negatively in Ghana. In most parts of Ghana, many people become parents when they are not prepared economically, emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and even socially. As a result, these parents find it difficult catering for their children. Thus, they do not handle the children properly making the children especially the babies and toddlers become malnourished and always looking sickly. Some women in their frustration and wanting to avoid disgrace abandon their children at either birth or run away leaving them for their relatives or some philanthropist to shoulder these responsibilities of parenthood for them.
In addition, some Ghanaian culture and tradition also affects parenthood negatively on the African continent. For instance, the Akans of Ghana who are mostly located in the Western, Central, Ashanti, Brong Ahafo, and the Eastern Regions of Ghana, have an inheritance system called the matrilineal system .This system of inheritance makes way for children to become part of their mother’s family that is being kinsmen and as such can inherit from their mother’s family. This system of inheritance is a major challenge to parenthood in Ghana. In that, until recently, most Akan men preferred to take care of their nephews and nieces whom they believe are their kinsmen rather than their own biological children. This was because they believe that if they take care of their own children, their mothers will take them to their families when they grow thus, they sheck their responsibilities as fathers leaving the children’s mothers to shoulder the responsibilities of parenthood all alone.
In conclusion, the economic situation of most African countries, the unpreparedness of most parents and some African tradition and culture are some of the challenges militating against parenthood in Ghana and Africa.
Until we met again bye.
AUTHOR: Neil Owusu Odame