Godwin Avenorgbo, ‘The Grandmaster’, shares his 50-year-old marriage life

Mr and Mrs Avenorgbo posing for the camera after 50 years of marriage

For many married youth, one of their major challenges has always been who does what in a union.

While some men are of the view that housekeeping chores are strict­ly a wife’s duty and wouldn’t even lift a finger to help, some wives, on the other hand, have taken an entrenched position when it comes to paying bills of any form, namely util­ity bills, school fees and rent, among others.

However, Mr. Godwin Avenorgbo, a renowned media personality also known as “The Grandmaster”, has a contrary view, which he shared with The Spectator on his 50th marriage anniversary with his wife Aimee on Wednesday, July 5, 2023.

“You will be surprised to know the things I have done on a daily basis at home for 50 years without a break. Apart from carrying a baby in the womb, I do everything a woman does at home, including daily house clean­ing and cooking,” he said.

The retired broadcaster said that for every marriage to be successful there was the need for couples to support each other and fill in gaps that the other spouse was not readily available to fill.

“There should be nothing like this is a woman’s role, and that is a man’s role…from the outdoor to the kitch­en through the living room to the bedroom and all,” he said.

He said marriages that had trav­elled so many years had not been an easy journey.

Mr. Avenorgbo said the success of a marriage was a direct result of shared responsibility in every activ­ity that added to the value of the family.

He admitted that his marriage had gone through all weathers, all seasons, downhill and uphill, but in all, it had been God, and he was very thankful to Him.

“I have a reason to count my blessings and name them one by one so we can give all the glory to Jeho­vah,” he said.

The marriage between Mr. and Mrs. Avenorgbo, which has produced three children made up of two sons, Chester and Jerry, and a daughter, Cleopatra, has not been an easy jour­ney and a long story, but “my family is beautiful and blessed.”

He observed that it was uncom­mon to have people share their expe­riences in marriage, which he de­scribed as a journey with many hills and valleys, because of the fear of discouraging others from embarking on the journey. “But it can be done, and done well,” he encouraged.

Mr. Avenorgbo advised people who have the intention of getting married not to focus on physical appearances.

He explained that this was be­cause “those things shift to the background or die as quickly as the first child is born and the focus of the husband and wife becomes more con­centrated on the well-being of the child, then later education and all.”

He advised that attitude, commit­ment, and a hands-on approach to dealing with the basic needs of the family, should be a priority because “those are the areas in which men neglect their roles thus making women feel overbur­dened”.

Reminiscing the day of marriage, he said, “I was credited with elo­quence of thoughtfulness and pres­ence of mind, but the day I said “I do”, I felt so nervous that the officiat­ing Minister had to ask me in a teas­ing manner, “can we hear the radio voice louder, please?” and everyone laughed, so I had to do so a second time as if I had then rehearsed a radio script properly under the supervision of the Great John Hammond.”

The couple’s children, Chester Mawuli, is a journalist, banker, and businessman; Jerry Kwashie, a lawyer; and Cleopatra Enyo, an international travel expert and French and English specialist.

From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema