MPs clap for fathers

The New Patriotic Party (NPP) Member of Parliament (MP), Collins Ntim made a passionate statement in Parliament yesterday to commemorate Fathers’ Day, which falls tomorrow, saying fathers must be well celebrated for their enormous and invaluable contributions to the family instead of being vilified.

He said that there might be a few irresponsible fathers in the society but most fathers have made great sacrifices to ensure that the family is kept intact and that celebrating fathers will definitely serve as a wake-up call to the few who have shirked their responsibilities.

He said fathers provide food, shelter, clothes, school fees, utility bills and almost everything that is needed in homes and therefore stereotyping men as uncaring, barbaric, cruel and wicked as a result of the shortcomings of some few men is rather unfortunate.

He explained that statistics available from American Fatherhood Initiative give horrendous revelations about homes without fathers or husbands even in a society where economic conditions are favourable.

“In America, 70% of violent crime including 72 percent of adolescent murderers, 60 percent of convicted rapists and 70 percent of long term prison inmates grew up without fathers,” he said, stressing that the statistics underline the importance of fathers in the home.

“In Ghana some men leave home in the morning and come back home at night not because they do not want to see their children, but the economic despondency and the burden of providing decent shelter, food, paying for school fees and utility bills have been serious nightmare to most men in Ghana whose incomes are nothing to write home about,” he noted.

According to the Offinso North MP, our societies are indeed desperate for real heroes and men with great family virtues, courage, integrity and love.

Hon. Ntim, therefore, used the occasion to commend and congratulate all men who have played untiring roles in the upkeep of their families and wished them well in all their endeavours.

He also called on all fathers to spend quality time with their wives and children at home since fatherly love helps children to develop a sense of identity.

Most male MPs commended the Offinso North MP for the ‘wonderful’ statement that recognized the efforts of men in the society.

The MP for Atwima Mponua, Isaac Asiamah said he was particularly touched by what he described as ‘emotional’ statement made by the Offinso North MP, saying the statement in commemoration of the Fathers’ Day was one of the most touching statements ever made on the floor of parliament since he entered parliament five years ago.

The speaker should allow the MP to make the same statement again on the floor of parliament in order to drum home the important role men play to keep the home going because the role being played by women had overshadowed that of men, according to him.

“Because of lack of time on the part of men, they have delegated most of their responsibilities and duties to their wives making it to look as if it is the women who are discharging those responsibilities,” he said, stressing that men must start visiting their wards in school, pay their wards’ schools fees themselves and also cook for them.

The MP for Awutu-Senya East, Hawa Koomson said men play a critical role to ensure the survival of the family.

She noted that her father assisted her to realize her dreams, adding that “without men, women cannot get pregnant and therefore they need to be appreciated.”

The Awutu-Senya-East MP said men would have to toil to provide all the needs of the family.

The MP for Hohoe, Dr Bernice Adiku Heloo, for her part, also commended all fathers and men for the invaluable role they play in society, adding that some men have made great sacrifices to ensure that their children grow to become responsible adults in the society.