Dr. Sawyer’s Good Deeds Sparkle at Governance Day -As GC Recounts His Achievements, Others Eulogized Him
One of the primary reasons successful leaders leave legacy is because they understand its impact on everyone around them. Their goal is to build relationships and accomplish something memorable that will help the society move forward long after they are gone. This is a complete representation of the lives and time of Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer, a consummate academic, thinker and former President of the Interim Government of National Unity who died on February 22, 2022 in the United States of America from Cardiac arrest. While some of his contemporaries and others were (and still are) amassing ill-gotten fortunes from the commonwealth and collaborating with repressive regimes to exploit the masses, he decided to devote most of his life and time working towards helping the nation combat corruption, suppression and enthrone popular democracy. His demise marked the end of an era but his contributions to the nation remain unchallenged and so it has not been a mistake when activities lined up to light up what he left behind have been taking place. The Analyst reports.
On the second day of activities marking the dignified exit from the face of Earth, on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, the Government of Liberia through the Governance Commission (GC), an institution the late Dr. Sawyer diligently served after his departure from the Presidency, organized the Governance Day program specifically designed to celebrate the legacy he laid to develop programs, advance suggestions, research, network and promote the cause of laying a solid foundation for the sustenance of good governance and strengthen our nascent democracy. The splendid program was held at the Monrovia City Hall.
As early as 8am, management and staff as well as former staff of the Governance Commission assembled at the premises of the institution in Sinkor and marched through the Tubman Boulevard for the commencement of the program dressed in colorful weaved traditional purple and white garment singing, dancing to melodious parade songs from the Armed Forces of Liberia Orchestra. They were later on joined by hundreds of Liberians from diverse backgrounds in Liberia and foreign dignitaries to converge at the Monrovia City Hall Theatre to celebrate the legacy of the late former Interim President of Liberia Prof. Dr. Amos Claudius Sawyer, recounting his tremendous contributions made to the growth of governance and democratic development of Liberia, Africa and the World at large.
Several persons and institutions made remarks and paid tributes to the late Dr. Sawyer including former Bishop of the United Methodist Church Dr. Arthur F. Kulah who as Guest Preacher spoke on the theme, “Do Good to All”, from the text Galatian 6:9-10, described the death of Dr. Sawyer as a great loss to the country while consoling the bereaved family.
He said the manifestation of things was not only in words but work, adding that those that worked with Dr. Sawyer can boast of him and described him as one of the best heroes and mentors.
“Dr. Sawyer was both water and life, he attracted both young and old. He was humble and down to earth, even as he was one of Liberia’s best “he said adding that Liberia will continue to reflect on the life of Dr. Sawyer because he was a humble man.
“We will reap and harvest the blessing of doing good and humble spirit therefore, we should not get tired of doing good. Dr. Sawyer was a great man in the family, classroom and in government and international mission”, the outspoken prelate said.
Also speaking at the program the Chairperson of the National Elections Commission, Davidetta Brown Lassannah described the late Dr. Sawyer as a man of humanity, a governance expert and a patriot. She said “Liberia will always cherish the benefits from the wisdom of Dr Sawyer.”
Dr. Togbah Nah Tippoteh, a longtime colleague of the deceased, eulogized the fallen politician and said that the passing of Dr. Sawyer is not a loss but a gain, saying we can use his legacy to solve problems. He however called on all Liberians not to just talk but put their talks to action because it is by that way that problems are solved.
Cllr. Cllr. Tiawan S. Gongloe, a presidential aspirant, who intends to contest on the ticket of the Liberia People’s Party (LPP), a former student and a friend to the late Dr. Sawyer said “Dr Sawyer is no more with us but his legacy will continue to impact Liberia including politicians, students and the ordinary people.”
Also making brief remarks, Dr. Togar McCintosh a former Vice President at ECOWAS Commission and former Cabinet Minister in Liberia said Dr Sawyer demonstrated commitment towards making Liberia a better nation, saying his contributions for a better Liberia will be remembered.
Laying the synopsis of legacy achievements of Dr. Amos C. Sawyer as Chairman of the Governance Commission from 2007 – 2018, Mr. McNeil M. Wilson began by quoting one of Dr. Sawyer’s profound statements concerning development policy-making,
“The success of Development policies depends on the ability of ‘Legitimate Institutions’-institution that are called for by the constitution and the laws of the country to focus on performing their functions within the limits of their statutes and by building arrangement of cooperation with other institutions, he said.
While outlining the achievements of Dr. Sawyer who was at the helm of affairs from 2007 to 2018, named the Political & Legal Reform-National Decentralization Policy;. Drafting and ensuring the passage of the Local Government Act (LGA) of2018; De-concentration — County Service Centers established with the aim to take services closer to the Liberian people; Fiscal Decentralization.
He said that in order to modernize the Liberia public Sector, the GC developed and has been implementing a framework referred to as Mandate & Functions Review (MFR) of public institutions. This effort led to the reform of a number of public institutions — i.e. Merger of the Ministries of Planning & Economic Affairs and the Ministry of Finance to become the Ministry of Finance & Development Planning; as well as the partitioning of others, i.e. Ministry of Finance & Development Planning.
“Embarking on efforts aimed at establishing the Principal Administrative Officer (PAO) – a senior civil servant portfolio to be situated in public institutions and serve as the repository of institutional knowledge. The GC and CSA commissioned a study which reviewed the existence of persistent weakness of the professional and administrative rank below the level of Assistant Minister. The weakness pertained to the lack of knowledge and or clear understanding of job description in line with the functions of MAC’s and clarifying the mandates and function of MAC’s to remove duplications and inconsistencies of functions’ ‘, he said.
He concluded the synopsis achievements of GC under Dr. Sawyer by listing the establishment of a number of public Institutions: The Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), the Public Procurement & Concession Commission (PPCC), the Internal Audit Agency (IAA), the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), National Investment Commission, National Bureau of Concession, Land Commission, Law Reform Commission.
So many speakers took their turn one after another praising the life, time and exemplary works left behind by the individual who from all accounts lived a life worth emulating at the program which was to have lasted only in the afternoon extended beyond the planned time frame.
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