What begins as a simple act of kindness can quickly turn into lifelong awkwardness, or even the end of a friendship. That’s exactly what sparked a fiery conversation on The Brotherhood show as the squad tackled a question many are afraid to ask out loud: Should you ever lend money to a friend?
The topic took centre stage when host Kofi Hayford triggered a lively debate among Zeal, Alvin, and Grandpa.
Alvin opened with a firm stance: he would rather ask his father for money than borrow from a friend, especially for business. He stated that borrowing makes him uncomfortable, and past experiences have taught him not to lend or borrow from people at all.
“If you need money, go to the bank,” he said.
Zeal, however, took the opposite view, saying that if a friend is struggling and has a genuine reason, he believes in helping, though disappointment is always a possibility.
Then came Grandpa’s story. He recalled his days at UCC when a friend lent him GH₵20 for a quiz and later went around telling everyone about it. That moment, he said, taught him why depending on people is not always wise.
He also shared his rule: when you lend money, accept in your mind that you may never get it back. He added, controversially, that it’s “better to lend money to a woman than a man” because “you can benefit from them,” though he himself would never borrow from a woman. To him, relying on people is simply not an option.
Alvin returned with another point, noting that he has no problem helping anyone, just pay back what you owe.
“It’s not wickedness,” he said. “If you can’t pay, communicate. Communication is key.”
He shared how he once helped a friend who had been evicted, yet a full year passed without repayment.
Kofi added his own experience from the early 2000s when a lady lent him money. He could not pay on time, but because he communicated, she understood.
Zeal stressed that before taking a loan, anyone should plan how they will repay it. Kofi emphasised that loans should not be reserved only for business but for urgent situations too.
They all agreed on one thing: some people borrow money and refuse to pay, yet are seen elsewhere doing charity like nothing had happened.
As the conversation wrapped up, Grandpa reminded everyone that humans will always need help, so supporting one another is normal.
Zeal echoed that sentiment: if someone needs help, give it if you can. But Alvin ended with the golden rule of friendship: to keep the brotherhood alive, honour your word, pay what you owe, and maintain your integrity.
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