Renowned Ghanaian lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata has given a refreshingly simple, and slightly cheeky, answer to a question that keeps popping up around his marriage. Why does Tsikata’s wife, Esther Cobbah, still use her maiden name?
The couple were in a relaxed, laughter-filled conversation with veteran broadcaster Kwaku Sintim-Misa when the topic came up during an interview aired on May 1, 2026.
KSM, known for asking the questions many are thinking, put it directly to Cobbah. Isn’t it part of her “bragging rights” to be called Mrs Tsikata, especially when she is married to what he described as a “legal colossus”? You can imagine the laughter that followed.
But Cobbah was ready. And her answer was as confident as it was playful.
Instead of getting defensive, she leaned into what makes her name special. In her words, it even sounds poetic. She described it as a kind of alliteration. “Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah… ba, ba, ba,” she said, almost singing it out. And yes, she added, her husband actually loves the name too.
Then came the part that really stole the show.
Cobbah shared that this isn’t the first time the question has come up. On a previous occasion, someone had asked Tsikata directly why his wife doesn’t use his surname. His response?
“I have the woman, what do I need the name for?”
That line instantly lit up the room with laughter. But beyond the humour, it said a lot about how the couple sees their relationship.
The conversation, however, was not all jokes and light moments. Cobbah also opened up about one of the toughest periods in their lives, when Tsikata was imprisoned. Looking back, she admitted she sometimes surprises herself with the strength she showed during that time. For her, it was a deeply defining experience, one grounded in faith and resilience.
Today, Cobbah stands as one of Ghana’s most respected voices in communications and is the founder of Stratcomm Africa. Over the years, she has built a strong professional identity around her maiden name, and clearly, that is not changing anytime soon.
And really, listening to both of them, it is easy to see why. For this couple, it is less about names and more about mutual respect, individuality, and knowing exactly who you are, with or without a surname change.
