Parliament pays Tribute to the late former MP for Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, Donald Soditey
Parliament on Wednesday, June 29, 2022, paid glowing tribute to the late former Member of Parliament (MP) for Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, Hon Donald Dari Soditey.
Incumbent MP for the area, Hon Andrew Dari Chiwitey who delivered a statement in Donald’s memory described him as a passionate love for development.
Hon Chiwitey who is also the Deputy Ranking of Works and Housing Committee of Parliament said Soditey’s legacy has left a profound mark on both the people of Sawla/Tuna/Kalba, the NDC and Ghana as a whole.
Lawmaker for Yapei-Kusagu, John Jinapor said Donald will be remembered for his boldness and forthrightness in the public sphere.
Many other MPs who contributed to the statement said Donald has paid his due as MP for his constituency and the nation and should be given a statement befitting burial.
Below is the Full statement
TRIBUTE TO PARLIAMENT IN MEMORY OF THE LATE HON. DONALD DARI SODITEY BY HON. ANDREW DARI CHIWITEY, MP FOR SAWLA-TUNA-KALBA CONSTITUENCY
Mr Speaker, I rise to pay a tribute in memory of the late Donald Dari Soditey, a former Member of Parliament who represented the good people of Sawla-Tuna-Kalba Constituency from 2005-2017.
‘Praise we the great of heart and mind, the singers sweetly gifted whose music like a mighty wind the souls of men uplifted. So praise we great and famous men the fathers, named in the story, and praise the Lord who now as then reveals in man His glory’ –– Charles Wesley
Rt. Honourable Speaker, it is only fair as tradition demands that, we pay homage to the deserving. Hon. Soditey was born on the 25th of September, 1957 to Mr. Soditey and madam Korchona soditey, both of blessed memory. His parents were farmers in a village called Doumhe, a suburb of Sawla. He is the first of fourteen (14) children. The family moved with him to a community called Techiman Ayigbe, where the parents were engaged in cocoa farming. Mr. Speaker, as a little boy, Hon Soditey started his basic education in the same village. In class three, his parents moved again to Wakawaka, a community in Bole district where he continued his education. After a few years in Wakawaka, his parents moved to settle at Doumhe, a suburb of Sawla. Whilst in Doumhe, he schooled in Nakwabi Roman Catholic primary school.
Mr Speaker, Hon. Soditey proceeded to Bole Middle Boarding school to pursue his education. In Bole middle Boarding, Hon Soditey wrote and passed the common entrance exams which took him to Brekum Secondary school in 1974 where he completed his form five (5).
Hon Soditey however had to truncate his education upon completion at the Brekum Secondary school due to lack of funds to finance his education. He then had to engage into other menial jobs including laboring on people’s farms and Abidjan habour to be able to accumulate some funds.
After gathering enough funds to ensure his entry into a training college, he applied and got admitted into the Brekum teacher training college where he successfully passed out as a professional teacher in 1990.
Upon completion, he was posted to Techiman Tia-Subriso, where he served for a number of years. Following his desire to also contribute to the education of his people up north, he requested for a regional transfer which took him back to the then Northern region and subsequently posted as an Assistant headteacher in the Sawla L/A primary school in the then Bole district. He was later transfered to head the Gbiniyiri L/A Primary School and ended his teaching career as the head teacher in the Blema L/A Primary School in the Sawla-Tuna-Kalba district in 2005.
In his quest to contribute his quota to the development of the area, Hon Donald Dari Soditey contested and won the Assembly elections to represent the people of the Banara electoral area in the then Bole district. He was re-elected for another two (2) terms. As the Assembly Member, Hon Soditey has always recounted his contribution to the location and building of the Sawla Post Office which faced fierce resistance by some residents.
Rt. Hon Speaker, Hon Soditey ventured into politics and became the first constituency organizer for the National Democratic Congress in the Sawla/Kalba constituency and rose to become the constituency chairman. He was the right hand man of the then Hon Member of Parliament, Hon Joseph Trumah Bayel. He served the party with all his heart that when he decided to contest the then sitting Member of Parliament in the NDC primaries in 2003, the delegates could not help but gave him their approval to contest the 2004 general elections. Not only did he win the 2004 parliamentary elections to become a member of parliament of the fourth parliament (4th), he also increased the votes for the party in the constituency. He was re-elected in 2008 and 2012 to be part of the 5th and 6th parliaments respectively but had to bow out in 2016.
Mr. Speaker, Hon Soditey served as the vice chair for the committee on Food and agriculture from 2009-2012 as well as the committee on Lands and Forestry from 2013 to 2016. He also served on other committees including Committees on Subsidiary Legislation, Local Government and Rural Development, Privileges, Employment and Social Welfare, Standing Orders as well as Works and Housing where he made valuable contributions to influence policy.
At the constituency, Hon Soditey contributed to the provision and maintenance of educational and health infrastructure, rural electrification, students support, among others.
Following his contribution to the creation of the Savannah region, he was chosen to represent the Birifors/Lobis at the Savannah regional house of chiefs.
Mr. Speaker, Hon Soditey and his lovely wife, Wefuina Gbansitey have seven (7) children with one currently serving as a lieutenant in the Ghana Army.
Hon Soditey after parliament has been engaged in farming until his demise.
May the soul of the Hon Donald Dari Soditey and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace.
Mr. Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity.
Source: expressnewsghana.com
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