“Women Must Reduce Chop Money”-William Sarpong Writes

In every Ghanaian home, one of the most common and culturally accepted financial obligations is “chop money” or the housekeeping allowance men give to their wives for the daily upkeep of the home. Over the years, this money has quietly grown to symbolize not only domestic responsibility but also the fluctuating burden of economic conditions.

Traditionally, when market prices rise, especially for food, fuel, and transport, it is the man’s duty to increase this allowance, often without question. Wives naturally adjust their demands to match the changing economic climate, and rightfully so. But what happens when the economy takes a different turn?

Today, Ghana is experiencing a modest decline in the cost of essential goods and services. Transport fares have dipped slightly, food prices have seen a relative drop in some markets, and inflation appears to be easing. Thanks to improving supply chains and recent economic interventions. Yet, there’s an elephant in the room: should “chop money” also be adjusted downward?

I believe it’s time we talk about it, not from a place of complaint, but from a place of fairness and shared responsibility.

As Managing Editor of the Environmental Guide, I engage with many households across the country as part of my reporting. A recurring theme I hear from men is that while they understand and accept their role as providers, they also need understanding. The pressure on men, especially in these times of economic recovery, remains intense. Salaries haven’t increased for many. Jobs remain uncertain. Small business earnings are still climbing out of the lows caused by past inflation spikes.

So why should the chop money stay the same when the cost of items it is meant to cover has slightly reduced?

This is not a call for selfishness. It is a humble plea for balance and realism. Just as women rightly call for increased chop money during times of hardship, we must also embrace equity by recognizing times of relief, however small and adjust our expectations.

More importantly, this is an opportunity for couples to build stronger partnerships through open financial communication. Budgeting should not be a one-sided affair. Transparency and cooperation must replace assumptions and silent expectations. When a husband can come home and say, “Things have improved slightly, let’s adjust the budget together,” it fosters unity, not conflict.

In closing, I urge Ghanaian women, especially married women, to kindly consider this appeal, not as a complaint, but as a genuine call for fairness and partnership. In the same way you have stood firm and demanded more in times of hardship, we respectfully ask for your understanding in this season of gradual economic relief.

Please, let’s meet each other halfway. A slight reduction in chop money will not diminish your worth or importance in the home. Rather, it will show empathy and support for your husbands who continue to shoulder many financial responsibilities.

Men are not asking to be excused from their duties. They are only pleading for breathing space, understanding, and a little relief. If we can make sacrifices together in difficult times, then we can also share in the relief together.

Let this be a moment of shared responsibility. Let Ghanaian marriages be a reflection of unity, even in the budget.