We all refer to our fathers by different names. In Ghana, some refer to their father as Papa, Agya (Akan), Dada, Daddy, or by a popular nickname only known to them. Fathers are our first love, provider, security, protector, and mentor.
The role of a father in the family is very important to a child or children’s psychological and physical well-being.
According to studies, when fathers are affectionate and supportive, it greatly affects a child’s wellbeing, social development, and self-confidence.
Regardless of how a father figure is connected to a child, the quality of the parent-child relationship is more essential than whether the child and father are related by blood.
A lot of discussions on celebrating fathers spark emotions and disagreements because many share divergent views and experiences of a father figure in their lives.
However, some fathers have played remarkable roles in molding the lives of their children and should be honored, no matter how small their efforts.
On Father’s Day each year, children acknowledge and appreciate their fathers and father figures who have supported them emotionally, mentally, or financially.
Brief History
Father’s Day was founded in USA, Spokane in Washington YMCA, in 1910 by Sonora Smart Dodd.
That year, Father’s Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910.
Sonora heard about how Anna Jarvis had founded Mother’s Day in honour of her mother and told the pastor of her Church, that there should be something similar to celebrate fathers too.
Sonora’s father was Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart, a single parent from Arkansas who raised six children.
Sonora was hoping that Father’s Day celebrations would be held on June 5, which was her father’s birthday, but the Church’s time constraints ended up pushing this day and the celebration was deferred to the third Sunday of June.
While India follows it, many other countries including Portugal, Spain, Croatia, Italy, etc celebrate Father’s Day on March 19.
Fathers like mothers play a major part in the general well-being of a child and society at large.
On this special day, we wish all Fathers long life and success.
Happy Father’s Day