In an interview with Ghanaian media personality Nana Aba Anamoah on Konnected Minds on 31st January 2026, she said something many parents need to sit with quietly:
Money is important. But it is not enough.
According to Nana Aba Anamoah, many parents genuinely believe that once a child is fed, clothed, and sent to school, the job is done. But parenting, she explains, is not just about provision. It is about presence. Emotional presence. Mental presence. The kind that allows a child to be seen, heard, and understood.
And that kind of parenting takes intention.
Parenting Is Not Just Financial Responsibility
Nana Aba made it clear that providing money is only one part of the job. A parent must make time to talk to their child, understand how their day went, and know who their friends are. Not from a place of control, but from curiosity and care.
At home, she encouraged her son to invite his friends over. Not because she wanted to monitor them aggressively, but because she wanted to understand them. Their conversations. Their personalities. Their energy. Their mindset.
She wanted to understand the psyche of the people influencing her child.
So she opened her home.
She sat with them. Cooked with them and listened to their music. Even when they introduced her to hip hop, she joined in fully—raps and all. She didn’t act like a distant authority figure. She became a safe adult presence.
They didn’t call her “Auntie.”
They called her “Naba” or “Ro.”
And that comfort mattered.
When Children Feel Safe, They Speak
Some of her son’s friends felt so comfortable that they would call her directly to ask if they could spend the weekend at her house. Some even asked her to call their parents on their behalf.
But Nana Aba Anamoah pushed back gently. She told them their parents should be people they could speak to freely. A child should be able to say where they are going and who they are spending time with—without fear.
According to her, when children hide, it is often not because they are rebellious, but because of fear, absence, or emotional distance. Not caring is rarely the issue. Most parents care. But concern requires attention. Presence. Engagement.
You cannot be shocked by your child’s life if you are truly involved in it.
You Should Know Your Child’s Capabilities
One of the strongest points Nana Aba made was this: parents should know what their children are capable of. When a child suddenly excels or suddenly falls short, it should not be a surprise.
If you know your child, you will know when something is off.
And when something is off, that is not the time for shouting. It is time for conversation.
Parenting, she said, is not just a full-time job. But it is also a fun one. Because you have chosen to be responsible for another human being. That responsibility does not expire when the child turns 18.
Your child at 20, 30, or even 80 should still feel comfortable telling you who they are talking to, who they are dating, and what is going on in their life.
The Conversations Parents Avoid Are the Ones Children Need Most
Nana Aba shared a deeply telling story about an 18-year-old girl who came to her in tears, convinced she was pregnant. The girl was scared—not just of the situation, but of telling her mother.
What became clear during the conversation was this: nobody had spoken to her properly about boys, sex, or protection.
That conversation had been avoided at home.
And now fear had filled the gap.
Nana Aba was firm on this point: parents must have these conversations. Silence does not protect children. It only leaves them unprepared.
Her Own Story: Compassion Changes Everything
She also spoke honestly about getting pregnant at a very young age. She knew her mother would struggle with it because of strong religious convictions. But her father’s response changed everything.
He told her that being pregnant did not mean her life had ended. That she would still give birth, still move forward, and still become what she wanted to be.
And she did.
But she is careful not to romanticise that experience. She does not encourage young people to see early pregnancy as a badge of strength or inspiration. She sacrificed a lot. While her peers were exploring life, she was raising a child. Her teenage years and early twenties were shaped by responsibility, not freedom.
That honesty matters.
Parenting Requires Presence—At All Times
Nana Aba’s message is not complicated, but it is demanding.
Parenting is financial.
Parenting is emotional.
Parenting is mental.
And above all, parenting requires presence.
Children need parents they can talk to without panic. Parents who are involved enough to notice changes. Parents who make space for uncomfortable conversations before fear fills the silence.
Because when parents are present, children don’t have to look elsewhere for safety.
