“Dr. Sawyer Laid The Foundation at Governance Commission”-Madam Dorkin -Wants Govt To Appoint GC Chair And Full Board

The Acting Officer in Charge at the Governance Commission (GC) Madam Elizabeth W. Dorkin has said the foundation laid by the late Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer, who was the premier Chairperson of the institution has been the key motivation and guide for the work succeeding generations of staff have been doing years after he left the integrity entity, acknowledging his immense contribution to enrich the governance structure of the country and urge government to appoint a substantive Chairperson and full Board of Commissioners asa  way of appreciating Dr. Sawyer’s work at GC.

Madam Dorkin made the statement yesterday while delivering a moving eulogy at the Monrovia City Hall where an exceptional Governance Day program, a celebration of the outstanding legacy of the former head of GC was held under the auspices of GC and its partners that brought together top government officials, diplomatic corps, development partners, professional colleagues, academics, workers, market women, civil society organizations, religious leaders, students, the media and other well-wishers that turned up to be part of the historic gathering.

“During his tenure as Chairman of the Governance Commission, Dr. Sawyer always looked into the future and envisioned the role of the Commission in the development arena of Liberia

“Dr. Sawyer believed that the most profound way that the GC can carry out its mandate is to focus on the effectiveness and efficiency of state institutions as they deliver services to the Liberian people”, she said.

She said President George Manneh Weah some years ago tapped into the relevance of the vision of Dr. Sawyer on strengthening governance in the country when he challenged GC to place more emphasis on policy impact monitoring.

The young and hardworking administrator further paying glowing tribute to the late erudite scholar linked the gains GC has made since the inception of the government in the areas of political and legal reform of decentralization, monitoring and evaluation, public sector reform, civic engagement, and to strengthening the national integrity system of Liberia, among others.

She also said that GC has recently completed the development of its 2022 to 2026 Strategic Plan. This plan places more emphasis on public policy impact monitoring for the next five years.

“The New direction, ladies and gentlemen, is based on the foundation that Dr. Amos Sawyer has laid, and the vision he has laid out for the Governance Commission

“As we celebrate the legacy of the late Dr. Amos C. Sawyer today, let me use this opportunity to encourage the government of Liberia to give greater priority to the Governance Commission”

“This can be done by firstly constituting the full Board of Commissioners including the appointment of a Chairman, as failing to do so could signal to the rest of the democratic world that there is low interest on the part of the government in promoting and protecting the principles of good governance”, she said.

She also used the occasion to appeal to Liberia’s development partners to continue supporting GC as was done in the past, noting that it was the most important way to help the Liberian people and keep the legacy of Dr. Sawyer, whom she described as a Great Son of Liberia, alive.

Madam Dorkin earlier on in her emotional speech had described the former Liberian leader as a man of high intellect, a principled mind, a patriot, a man with profound people centered orientation, and an embodiment of great humility.

“Over the past few weeks, as I listened to many discussed the life of Dr. Sawyer from grade school days to his colleague days; from his days as Interim President, to the time he served as Chairman of the Governance Commission, up to just last week when I listened to his widow, Mrs. Comfort Sawyer share her memories of her late husband, I have come to realize that indeed Dr. Amos C. Sawyer was truly a unique character”, she said.

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