Founder and leader of the Anointed Palace Chapel (APC), Francis Nana Ofori Dwumfour, widely known as Rev Obofour, has ignited fresh public discussion after commenting on what he describes as the overlooked struggles of women within marriage, especially in relation to childbirth, separation and property rights.

Addressing his congregation during a sermon, the outspoken preacher argued that many African women devote years of effort, emotional labour and personal sacrifice to their marriages, yet often receive little or no recognition when relationships break down or when a spouse passes away. He suggested that in several cases, widows and divorced women are left vulnerable despite their contributions to the family’s growth.

In his remarks, he said, “I feel pity for women in Africa. They will get married, put all their time and effort into the marriage and then give birth. By the time she realises, her husband will die and the family members will fight her for the properties. If the husband doesn’t die and they divorce, the man will say she didn’t do anything but only him who achieved everything.”

Rev Obofour also drew attention to the physical and emotional toll of pregnancy and childbirth, noting that such experiences are often undervalued in discussions about marital contribution. He admitted that even personal discomfort recently gave him a new appreciation of what women endure.

He further explained, “She will be pregnant for nine months, then go into labour. If your account is to be deducted by the suffering the women go through, you will be left with nothing. Just this past few days that my tummy grew big, I could barely breathe. I had to try and exercise for it to go down.”

Beyond marriage dynamics, the preacher also called for a shift in societal thinking, urging people to move away from what he described as a survival-of-the-fittest mentality. He criticised the automatic respect often given to age over truth or reasoning, insisting that wisdom is not guaranteed by seniority.

According to him, “If you’re building your life and you put in your mind that each one for himself and you have to survive, the technical thinking of slavery will be cut off. I always pray that our minds will get to a certain point in this country. When a child says something, it’s always dismissed, but when an old person says the same thing, it is accepted. The day God will open our minds for us to debunk these things, everything in Ghana will go well.”

He added a cautionary note about blind trust in elders, stating, “The old can kill, lie and some can’t give positive advice. Pray to God that you will meet someone to do life with you peacefully till you go far. Not the hypocrites who will pretend to be with us.”

His comments have since sparked conversations online, with some agreeing with his perspective on women’s struggles in marriage, while others argue that his remarks are an indirect criticism of Bishop Daniel Obinim after his wife publicly admitted that she does not own a car from her husband despite years of marriage.

Watch the video below:

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Source: Yvonne Nyarko Agyemang