At a heartfelt gathering themed “Yesterday’s Daughters, Today’s Mothers,” veteran Ghanaian actress Grace Omaboe, known affectionately as Maame Dokono, shared hard-won wisdom from her personal life, urging couples to shield their marriages from family interference.
Her reflections came during A Convergence of Mothers, an event organized by media personality MzGee that brought women from different generations together to exchange stories and lessons on motherhood in Ghana’s changing society.
Reflecting on her second marriage, Omaboe recounted how familial involvement played a key role in its unraveling. Though she didn’t clarify whether the interference came from her own relatives or those of her partner, she was clear about the consequences.
“My advice to you is, do not listen to the family. If you listen to your family, your marriage will collapse. Mine collapsed because I listened to family. The marriage was nice; we went abroad and we enjoyed the marriage, but it collapsed,” she said.
Known for her openness, Maame Dokono offered glimpses into her journey as a mother of six, borne of relationships with three different men.
“I have six children, and I went through hell to bring them up. Six children with three men; two with each man. The first two children were twins,” she revealed.
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Dokono also recalled a harrowing moment after giving birth to her first set of twins.
“With the first two children, I almost died. The day I was to come home, I got locked up in the elevator at Korle-Bu, and I thought I was about to die,” she recounted.
Though initially hesitant to have more children, her perspective changed after falling in love again.
“I said I won’t get pregnant again, but when you meet a loved one, your words will not hold any longer. I met another man, and we gave birth to a boy and a girl. That marriage was so nice.”
Even after the second marriage ended at age 40, Omaboe did not close the door on love or motherhood.
“When it collapsed, I was 40 years old. I said I won’t get pregnant again, but I met another man and gave birth to two more children and that made it six.”
Aside from her marital experiences, she emphasized the importance of maternal responsibility, especially when it comes to childcare.
“Me, when I have my babies, I don’t leave them with anyone. No matter what, I will take care of my children. It’s better than leaving them with people because you’d never know how they will treat your children,” Maame Dokono advised.
The forum, designed as a nurturing space for intergenerational dialogue, tackled critical topics including legal rights in parenting, mental health struggles among mothers, raising teenagers, and navigating Ghana’s modern education system. Through stories like Maame Dokono’s, the event underscored how personal resilience and community wisdom continue to shape motherhood across the decades.
Watch her remarks here.
