We don’t respect you because you are a father, but you are respected because you are a responsible father who guides – Rev Vincent Kankam (Sofo Kankam)

As Father’s Day approaches, Rev. Kankam has touched on an era where the concept of fatherhood is often romanticized or reduced to mere biological contribution, with a sober reminder that true respect is earned through consistent actions, not just by playing a biological role.

Rev. Kankam, speaking on Kessben FM’s Food for Thought program, stressed that simply being a father in the biological sense does not entitle one to automatic respect from their children or community. “There are many men who have fathered children,” he said, “but it takes a responsible man to raise, nurture, and guide a child into adulthood.”

This distinction echoes the sentiments of many single mothers, guardians, and community leaders who have had to step in where biological fathers have fallen short. According to Rev. Kankam, guidance, emotional support, and accountability are the real pillars of fatherhood.

In many African cultures, fathers are traditionally seen as the ultimate authority figures in the home. However, Rev. Kankam challenged this idea, noting that respect based solely on traditional gender roles is fading in modern society

This cultural shift is especially visible in urban Ghana, where children are increasingly influenced by global perspectives on parenting and leadership. Fathers who fail to be present or act as positive role models risk losing the respect of their own households.

Rev. Kankam’s statement is both a critique and a call to action. He urged men not to see fatherhood as a one-time event but as a lifelong responsibility.

He encouraged men to be actively involved in their children’s lives, not just financially, but emotionally and spiritually as well. The goal, he emphasized, is to raise not just children, but responsible future adults who will in turn model good fatherhood.

WATCH VIDEO BELOW: