Obaa Yaa

My father responsible for caretaker’s pregnancy

Published

2 months ago

August 1, 2026

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Dear Obaa Yaa,

When we hired a caretaker to take care of our 70-year-old father, the last thing we expected was that this caretaker becoming pregnant for our father.

One evening, my phone rang. I checked and it was my sister. The moment I answered, my heart sank. I was convinced she was about to tell me that our father had passed away.

Instead, she said, “It’s not death. It’s about new life. Dad has gotten the woman taking care of him pregnant.”

For a few seconds, I was speechless. Then I laughed in disbelief.

“Our 70-year-old father? He got his caretaker pregnant? How did that even happen? And what was she thinking, choosing to have a child with a man of his age?”

Months later, the baby arrived. When I received the photos of our newest sibling, my feelings changed. The shock gradually gave way to acceptance. I began sending extra money home, not just to support my father, but also to help care for the woman who had become his partner and their little child.

Life settled into a new routine until one ordinary day in December, barely two years after the baby’s birth, another phone call came.

This time, it was the news we had once feared. Our father had passed away.

Efe, Swedru.

Dear Efe,

Your father’s actions may have come as a shock, but the child who was born is innocent and deserves love, dignity, and acceptance. While it may be difficult to understand or agree with your father’s choices which might make you angry, I think that the anger must not stretch to the child who is very innocent on this matter.

As a family, take time to mourn your father’s passing before making major decisions. If your father left a will, follow it. If he did not, work together to settle his estate fairly and according to the laws.

If there is any uncertainty about the child’s legal relationship to your father, you may consider obtaining legal advice or, if necessary and appropriate, a DNA test before inheritance is distributed.

If the child is indeed your father’s, remember that he or she is your sibling and has the same need for love, care, and a sense of belonging as any other child. Supporting the child does not mean you must ignore your own feelings, but it does mean choosing compassion over resentment.

It is also important to treat the caretaker with respect. Avoid making assumptions about her motives without evidence. Focus instead on what is best for everyone involved, especially the child.

The greatest way to honour your father’s memory is not by dwelling on the circumstances of the pregnancy, but by handling the situation with wisdom, fairness, and kindness.

Obaa Yaa

My Stepfather at ‘war’ with me over my late mother’s house

Published

4 days ago

September 19, 2026

WeeklySpectator

Dear Obaa Yaa,

I am a 39-year-old woman and the eldest of four children. My mother died five years ago. Before her death, she owned a house where she lived with my stepfather and my younger siblings. My stepfather had been married to my mother for more than 20 years.

After the death of mother. My stepfather has gone to court, claiming that the house belongs to him. He says he contributed money towards the construction and maintenance of the property and that my mother’s children have no right to interfere with it.

He has even accused me and my siblings of trying to take the house from him.

I am shocked because my mother was the person who acquired the land and started the building. She also told us several times that the house was meant to remain in the family.

There is no written agreement between my mother and my stepfather about who owns what, and I am worried that this case could divide the family permanently.

My younger siblings are also angry with me because they believe I should fight my stepfather until the house is given to us.

Obaa Yaa, should I fight him in court or try to settle the matter outside court?

From Frimpongmaa,

Assin Praso.

Dear Frimpongmaa,

I am sorry you are going through this. A dispute over your late mother’s home can be very painful, especially when it involves your stepfather. Do not give up on the house or sign any document simply because he has sued you. Being sued does not mean that he automatically owns the property.

Find out exactly what your stepfather is claiming, for example, whether he says the house belongs to him, that he is the beneficiary, or that you have no right to the property.

The court will determine who legally owns the property based on the applicable succession law and the evidence.

The exact answer can change considerably depending on where the house is located, whether your mother left a Will, how she acquired the house, what type of marriage she had with your stepfather, whether there are other children, and the applicable customary/statutory law.

Obaa Yaa

I can’t meet demands from my husband’s family

Published

4 days ago

September 19, 2026

WeeklySpectator

Dear Obaa Yaa,

I am a woman married for over 17 years and blessed with three children.

My father passed away two years ago and left some property to me and my two siblings.

Among the things I inherited was a piece of land and a house which I intend to keep for my children’s future.

My husband’s family are putting pressure on me to give up the property and allow my husband to take control of it. They are saying that because I am married, anything I inherit should benefit my husband and his family as well.

I have tried to explain that my father deliberately left the property to me, but they accuse me of being selfish and disrespectful to my husband’s family.

I am now confused. I love my husband, but I don’t want to lose what my father worked hard to leave behind.

What should I do?

Adzo, Ho

Dear Adzo

If the inheritance legally belongs to you, you should not feel pressured to surrender it simply to be at peace with your husband’s family.

At the same time, avoid making a rush decision based on anger or fear.

I don’t see the reason why your husband’s family wants to take control of the land.

Keep copies of relevant documents and, if necessary, seek legal advice.

Do not sign any document transferring, renouncing your interest until you fully understand its consequences.

You should also have a good conversation with your husband. Ask him why his family wants you to hand over your inheritance to them and whether he supports their position.

Remember that family pressure is not the same as a legal obligation. You can respect your husband’s relatives without surrendering something that is rightfully yours.

If you eventually decide to share part of the inheritance, let it be because you genuinely wanted to, not because you were intimidated or emotionally overstretched.

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