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Father’s Day: Uncle Ebo Whyte talks about how husbands must adapt to changing roles

  Sun, 15 Jun 2025
Headlines Uncle Ebo Whyte
SUN, 15 JUN 2025
Uncle Ebo Whyte

Renowned playwright and motivational speaker, Mr. James Ebo Whyte, popularly known as Uncle Ebo Whyte, has called on husbands to adapt to the evolving dynamics of family life by embracing new roles that promote peace, joy, and harmony in their homes.

Speaking on a local broadcast ahead of the Father’s Day celebration, Mr. Whyte noted that the traditional understanding of male and female roles in marriage had changed significantly.

He urged modern men to relate to their spouses in ways that reflect current realities, rather than replicating the outdated models their fathers lived by.

“The image of the man as the sole breadwinner is no longer tenable,” he explained, pointing out that more women are now holding top positions in corporate spaces.

“My father, years ago, was not seen in the kitchen. In fact, if the family saw him there, they would attack my mother and call her a witch,” he said.
“Today, let's say your wife is earning more than you do. She's in a high position. At 4:30 p.m., you're home already, but she's just starting a meeting because she's a head of department reviewing targets.
“You're resting at home at 5:00 p.m. and calling her to ask, 'Where is my food?' We should learn to understand our roles in the current world,” he said.

Mr. Whyte emphasized the need for husbands to support their wives, especially when they bear a significant financial burden. He encouraged men to adjust to modern lifestyles where women may plan meals ahead due to work schedules.

“A lot of career women cook for the week, dish it into containers, and store it in the fridge. All you have to do is warm it and eat,” he said. “We have to learn these things if we want peace in the house. If your wife brings in more income, ask yourself – because she's carrying a financial load – how can I support her?”

He urged men to redefine their roles in marriage by sharing responsibilities and rejecting the outdated notion that financial provision must rest solely on the man.

“The idea that every expense should be the man's burden must change so that marriage becomes a true partnership,” he said.

Reflecting on the realities of many Ghanaian homes, Uncle Ebo Whyte pointed out that while many men are praised as good fathers, they often fall short as husbands.

“Your mother buys a gift for you and says, 'Your father asked me to give this to you. Go and thank him.' You go to thank him and the look on his face tells you he may not know anything about it. But that's what makes him a good husband,” he added.

He stressed the importance of emotional closeness between fathers and their children, challenging men to become more accessible in their homes.

“If your children need something, why can't they come to you directly? Why must they go through their mother?” he asked.
“Let them feel safe and have access to you.”

Uncle Ebo Whyte also called for more respect and support for wives, as this is crucial for sustaining a peaceful home. He encouraged men to work on healing any strained relationships with their spouses.

He attributed many challenges in fatherhood and marriage to the way society raises boys, noting that while girls are groomed with care, boys are often left to figure things out on their own.

“Girls are raised carefully. Boys are left to find their own way, with the assumption that they will somehow know right from wrong,” he said.
“When a man and woman are at the altar exchanging vows, the woman knows what she's doing. The man may only understand what it means to be married five years in – if he's lucky.”

He criticized societal norms that focus on a man's financial readiness for marriage rather than his emotional maturity.

“This results in the challenge I call the 'motherisation of fatherhood', where wives have to tell their husbands how to be fathers and what their duties are,” Uncle Ebo Whyte said.

He concluded by encouraging fathers to form bonds with their children from the earliest stages of life to avoid feelings of irrelevance during infancy.

“Before birth, mother and child have already bonded for nine months. After delivery, the father is often just a cheerleader, irrelevant for the first three to six months,” he said.
“When the baby is hungry, the father feels useless. Many men give up at this stage without realising that while the mother had a head start, they will also get their chance.”

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