Entrepreneur Kweku Frimpong says joint bank accounts can create tension in relationships, weaken marital harmony and limit a man’s financial independence.

He shared his views on Thursday’s episode of The Brotherhood on Joy Prime during a discussion on whether joint bank accounts still make sense for couples.

“As a man, before you even have the thought of getting married, you should be ready to take responsibility for your family.  Whatever comes from a wife is a support.

Once you decide to have a joint account, it means you people are equals now and I feel it brings down the power of a man and it creates tension in the relationship. Because if I’m not able to bring it up a particular month, what would you say?” he stated.

Mr Frimpong argued that men must be fully prepared to shoulder financial responsibilities before marriage. He stressed that as head of the household, a man should lead financially while other family members provide support. He dismissed joint accounts for couples, saying they undermine a man’s authority by creating a sense of equal financial footing in areas such as rent and utilities. Instead, he advocated individual savings, where a wife’s contribution remains supportive rather than an equal share in core household provisions.

In his view, joint accounts can create avoidable pressure, especially when one partner is unable to contribute in a particular month. He said this can lead to friction and reduce a man’s flexibility to manage and grow his finances independently. For emergencies or shared goals, he suggested couples could pool funds from their personal savings without committing to fixed joint arrangements. He added that his position is not based on distrust, but on maintaining what he describes as family structure, with all assets ultimately benefiting the wife and children.

Content creator and regular panellist on the show, Zeal, also spoke against joint bank accounts for unmarried couples. “I don’t think anybody should have a joint account whilst in a relationship and not married,” he said.

On the issue of married couples, Zeal proposed strict conditions before opening a joint account. He recommended “not less than three years” of marriage to properly understand each other’s spending habits and compatibility, explaining that “you need to study the person whilst you’re married to the them” through everyday life.

He also advised men to divide their income into three parts and disclose only one portion to their wives. “just tell your wife that you make a thousand” out of three thousand, he said, suggesting the remaining amount could help cover unexpected expenses such as car repairs or extended family responsibilities. He described the approach as a “necessary evil.”