The Shai Traditional Area and the community of Dodowa Wedokum are mourning the passing of Asafoatse Berima Okofoampa Gbengor Sodji V, a respected traditional leader and former presidential chauffeur whose life was marked by service, discipline and a deep commitment to his people.
Born on 2 December 1960 in Batabi near Akyem Oda in the Eastern Region, he was the fourth of seven children of Gabriel Tetteh Sodji and Kate Ama Osei, both of blessed memory. Known widely as Nene, he began his education at Tiakama Nkwanta Roman Catholic Basic School before relocating to Accra, where he continued at Madina La-Nkwantang Middle School and earned his Middle School Leaving Certificate.
He pursued further studies at Emit Electronics Institute and later at Accra Polytechnic—now Accra Technical University—where he graduated with a Diploma in Automobile Engineering.
After his studies, Nene entered the transport sector as both a commercial driver and transport owner, operating routes between Accra and Elubo as well as Accra and Aflao. His professionalism on the road led to his recruitment by the United States Embassy as a chauffeur. He later served as a personal chauffeur to U.S. President George W. Bush during the president’s visit to Ghana in 2008, a role that brought him widespread admiration.
