First Lady of Lighthouse Group of Churches, Adelaide Heward-Mills

First Lady of the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches, Episcopal Sister Adelaide Heward-Mills has advised married couples to avoid battling each other over roles within the marriage.

Speaking in an interview with GhanaWeb at the 2025 Woman Redefined Conference in Accra on May 31, 2025, Heward-Mills challenged societal gender expectations, stating that roles should align with strengths rather than societal norms.

"My father was a go-getter; he supervised building, painting, and gardening, tasks that my mother or I couldn’t do. My mother managed the kitchen.

“It's not necessarily that he has to cook or clean because you cook and clean. If there's division of labour in the home and maybe if you own your parts, you may not need to resent him because if he also said, go and do the gardening, go and supervise the mason, you may not also be cut out for that," she stated.

She suggested that women can also get help through the use of professional help and labour-saving devices to make their roles easier.

“The virtuous woman had servants. Now we have labour-saving devices. We have ways you can plan so that you get the help you need. Maybe you can save towards a washing machine, maybe you can save towards a dishwasher. And then also you can train your children to also do a part, even if they are boy children,” she added.

She advised that such issues be examined with a proper lens and that couples shouldn't be carried away by external influences.

“These gender battles are not necessary. We need to look at it objectively. Some people have chefs, but maybe that chef is brought by your husband, or your husband pays that chef so that the load of cooking may be taken away from you.

"So, we need to look at it well so that we don't throw the baby out with the bath water,” she warned.

Held on June 31, 2025, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra under the theme "Arise Shine and Impact", the Woman Redefined Conference sought to empower, transform and uplift women from all walks of life.

Activities included breakout sessions, exhibitions, performances, and networking sessions that highlighted the achievements of women.

ID/EB

Watch as Paul Adom Otchere offers advice to NDC footsoldiers