In a society where starting a family was once considered a natural step into adulthood, more and more men today appear to be pressing pause on fatherhood.
Whether shaped by personal ambition, economic realities, or shifting cultural norms, the path to becoming a father is evolving.
In this special report, Sarfoa Boahene takes a closer look at why fatherhood is being delayed, and what this change means for individuals, families, and the future of parenting in Ghana.
The journey to fatherhood is no longer a race against time or so it seems. Today’s man is more likely to pursue financial stability, career success, or personal freedom before choosing to start a family.
Fatherhood, once seen as a milestone of early adulthood, is looking different these days. In urban areas, it’s not unusual to find men in their 30s or even 40s who are still not fathers.
For some, it’s a matter of choice. For others, a lot of factors come to play.
“It stems from economic circumstances from the current situation we have in the country where there is a lot of youth unemployment. Being a father comes with a lot of responsibilities so if you’re going to be a father, you need to have the resources.” Johnson said.
“Some are afraid of becoming fathers because they are not up to that standard, they think they are not yet ready so anytime there is a pregnancy case or some sort they try to skip away,” Grace noted.
“Fatherhood is a lot of responsibilities. If you want to be a father, you need to be ready for the responsibilities. People who like to have fun with ladies, but they don’t want to be a father, it means they don’t know what it means.” Nana stated.
It’s a topic that sits between culture, economy, and personal readiness.
The 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey reveals that the median age at first marriage for men is 27.7 years, compared to 21.8 years for women.
In urban areas, the trend is even more pronounced, with women giving birth for the first time at 23.4 years on average, 2.6 years later than their rural counterparts.
So, what does this mean for fatherhood?
“Men marry at a later age than women so that gives us an idea of late fatherhood. If you look at the Ghanaian culture, women now a days also contribute to the maintenance of their families or their household, but the cultural expectation is that it is the male or the husband, the father, who bears the bulk of this responsibility. So, what that means is that, before a man decides to become a father, he must make sure that he can financially provide for his children.” Dr Albert Kpoor, Sociologist, UG.
But while the social clock may be changing, is the biological one staying the same? That’s a question health professionals are beginning to speak up about.
“There are certain factors that influence men’s production. From the age of 35 to 40, science proves that the production of semen or the quality of it starts reducing. 30% of the population of men of fertility cases that have been reported so far, we have about 25% that is undefined, we don’t know the cause.” Bede Anyoka, Programmes Manager, PPAG.
Experts also point to lifestyle as a silent factor.
“Our lifestyle. The food we eat now are sprayed with chemicals, the environment, the stress level, the lifestyle like smoking, drinking and all that. Science has proven that a number of it affects the production of the sperm. When you talk about the morphology, the shape of the sperm that can help to produce kids is being affected due to this. Even the movement, a sperm is supposed to swim. It affects the quality of the sperm, the number and quantity.” Bede Anyoka noted.
So, is delayed fatherhood a cause for concern, or just another version of progress? Opinions differ. But one thing is certain, fatherhood today is no longer just about age. It’s about intention, readiness, and the world men find themselves in.
