Mr Speaker, I would like to make a Statement to pay tribute to the life of Mrs Theodosia Salome Kumea Okoh, who today, is being given a fitting and deserving State burial.
Mr Speaker, the said Theodosia Okoh was born on 13th of June, 1922, to Rev. Emmanuel Victor Asihene and Mrs Dora Poobea Akyea Asihene. She was chris- tened and given the full name of Theodo- sia Salome Abena Kumea Asihene.
Her long name of Theodosia soon became variously shortened to Dosia, Doh, Theo.
Because her father was a teacher of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at the time, as she grew up, the family moved, first to Anum on the other side of the Volta, then to Afidwase in Ashanti and later to Abetifi in Kwahu.
Dosia started life within the happy, and robust family of Asihene siblings and a host of cousins and relatives. At age five, in 1927, she started school at Afidwase where she immersed herself in studying and other school activities, including sports and groundwork.
During her growing up period at home and subsequently, Dosia picked up and learned various skills including cooking, baking, sewing and embroidery and even gardening, mostly from her mother.
When her father was ordained a Min- ister of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana at Afidwase, he had charge of several congregations within his area of adminis- tration and he had to make frequent visits to minister unto them. Because access to motorised transport was difficult at the time, Dosia would accompany her father on long walking journeys to outlying villages, sometimes carrying some of his luggage.
Later, for further schooling, Dosia was admitted to the Basel Mission Girls School at Agogo where she joined her sister Lucy, almost a foundation student,
at the budding unique boarding school for girls, ran by Basel Missionaries. She remembered best how hard she and the other pioneer students in the new school had to work!
The school was literally built within a forest and the students had to clear bush and create gravel covered paths, plant flowers and fruit trees, clean classrooms and dormitories and find firewood from the forest for cooking.
But all the heavy chores notwith-stand- ing, she and her fellow students loved their school, cherished their companionship and carried fond memories even into their old ages. Dosia enjoyed her days at Agogo where she learned a lot that also crystal- lised her interactions with life.
Dosia stayed on at the school to take the teacher training course. That period coincided with World War II and, like other schools and similar institutions, she and her fellow students at Agogo contrib- uted to the war effort by knitting sweaters, socks and scarves for the soldiers.
After completing the teacher training course, Dosia was posted to Kukurantumi in Akim where she became the first female teacher of the school. She accepted the situation and stood up to the challenges that the position entailed.
Subsequently, Dosia went to Achimota College as one of three female students to do a course in the Art School. The course lasted till 1944 after which Dosia returned to Agogo to teach Art.
In 1949, Dosia met and became married to Enoch Kwabena Okoh of the Prince of Wales College, later to be named Achi- mota College. He had graduated with a Master of Arts Degree from Cambridge University and was working at the Co-
