Harry Sawyerr was a true statesman — Rawlings
Former President Jerry John Rawlings has described Mr Harry Sawyerr as a true statesman who fought for the good of the nation.
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He said the late Sawyerr was a man who did not hesitate to share his wisdom, his concern about things, and was truely one of the outstanding personalities not just in government but in the society at large.
Former President Rawlings praised him for his performance in the party machinery such as when he occasionally acted as the Chairman of the Council of Elders.
These qualities, he said, were among other factors why Mr Sawyerr was brought on board in the 1980’s to serve in various sectors of the then government’s development programmes.
He said this in a tribute when he and the Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Kofi Adams, called on the family of the late Harry Sawyerr at his residence in Accra yesterday.
The visit was also to express their sympathies over the passing of 87-year-old former member of the Council of State, Minister of Transport and Communications, Minister of Education and Member of Parliament on Friday, November 8,2013.
Mr Sawyerr was a chartered surveyor and astute politician who resigned his position as Vice-Chairman of the Council of Elders of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) days before he turned 87.
He had, over the last six decades, distinguished himself in the areas of politics, nation building and private practice as a chartered surveyor.
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He was decorated with the highest honour of state, Companion of the Order of the Volta, by President John Evans Atta Mills.
Former President Rawlings said it was unfortunate that Mr Sawyerr’s wise counsel was not taken seriously when he was alive, saying, “if people had taken his wise counsel more seriously, I guess things would have been a little different but as it may be, we can only thank the good Lord for the role that he has played with all sincerity and especially through the trying times this country has been through.”
He, however, expressed the hope that the current government, as well as generations to come, would be able to restore some sanctity into the system.
“I say this because people like Mr Sawyerr and others should not be seen as those who have wasted their lives while playing a role for this country.”
“I hope his spirit will rest in peace and I believe the government will do what is right to give him the burial that he deserves,” Mr Rawlings added.