Tima Kumkum Opens Up on Difficult Conversation With Children After Separation From Second Husband

Ghanaian media personality Cynthia Tima Yeboah, known professionally as Tima Kumkum, has shared the emotional toll of breaking news of her marital separation to her children, describing it as one of the hardest conversations she has had to navigate. Speaking on Joy Prime's Changes programme hosted by Nikki Samonas, Tima confirmed that she and her husband Dominic Duodu separated on 1 April 2025, and revealed the difficult journey of eventually telling her children the truth about their father's absence from home.

When Dominic left their home on the day of separation, Tima's daughter immediately noticed and asked where her father was. Unable to face the conversation at that moment, Tima told the children their father had travelled. However, after approximately six months, she recognised that continuing to hide the reality was no longer sustainable and made the difficult decision to tell them the truth — that their father was no longer living with them.

"You have no idea because my fear was them asking me. The day we separated on the first of April 2025, when he left home, my girl in the morning asked, 'Mummy, where is daddy?' Initially I lied that he had travelled but after 6 months I couldn't lie again, I had to face reality and tell them daddy is not with us," Tima recalled during the interview.

Navigating Uncertainty With Young Ones

The separation brought additional challenges when her children continued pressing for answers about whether their father would return home. Tima found herself in the difficult position of explaining a situation she was still processing herself. She told them that she did not know whether Dominic would return, as they were experiencing difficulties in their marriage. She explained to the children that if she and Dominic could resolve their differences, the situation might change, but that they were also preparing for the possibility of divorce.

Tima acknowledged that having this conversation with her children was particularly hard, but she felt compelled to face reality and inform them honestly about what was happening. Despite the marital breakdown, she spoke positively about Dominic's role as a father, describing him as responsible and crediting him for taking care of their son together. "He's a very responsible man. I'll give him his flowers for that," she said.

Why It Matters for Ghana

Tima's candid account resonates within Ghana's cultural context, where discussions about separation and divorce remain sensitive, particularly when children are involved. The award-winning presenter's willingness to speak openly about such a personal matter contributes to broader conversations in Ghanaian society about family breakdown, parental responsibility, and the emotional well-being of children caught in such situations.

Tima's situation also reflects a reality facing many Ghanaian families — the challenges of blended families and the complexities that arise when individuals with children from previous relationships form new unions. Before meeting Dominic, she had spent seven years as a single mother. Dominic had two children from a previous relationship, and together they had a son after marrying in July 2023. The couple's separation underscores how even carefully planned unions can face unforeseen difficulties.

She confirmed that the separation is known to their families, close friends and neighbours, and that both she and Dominic have accepted the situation and continue to co-parent their son. The divorce process is currently ongoing, with Tima awaiting the legal completion and issuance of her divorce certificate. Throughout the process, she has chosen not to disclose the specific reasons for the marriage's breakdown, preferring to focus on moving forward responsibly for the sake of their children.