The President of the erstwhile Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU), the late Professor Amos Claudius Sawyer’s book titled, “No Land No Vote” is expected to be launched soon.
The book is the lifework and contributions of the late Liberian leader and professor his passing on Wednesday, February 16, February 2022 at the John Hopkins University Hospital in the United States of America following a period of illness.
Madam Thelma Comfort Duncan-Sawyer, widow of the deceased, told the media that the book titled: “No Land No Vote” reveals the many contributions he made while serving his country as a lecturer, professor and leader during the most turbulence times in the nation’s history.
“His legacy remains alive and flourishing,” Madam Sawyer stated.
She said, “Amos left behind numerous unfinished projects and the book is one of them as his ambitious campaign to establish an entire culture of good governance and credible electoral politics that Liberia and Africa cannot ignore.”
Duncan-Sawyer made these comments on Thursday, June 15, at Kaizer Memorial Cemetery in Brewerville, when she led family members, friends, sympathizers as well as comrades of the Liberian progressive community to the posthumous commemoration of the 78th birthday celebration of her husband.
Comrades Dew Mayson, Richard Panton, and Togba-Nah Tipoteh, progressivists as well as members of the religious community were among hundreds of sympathizers who witnessed the occasion when Madam Sawyer tearfully paid tributes to her late husband.
Amos and Comfort got wedded on October 29, October 1983, and their union is blessed with several children for whom the widow said she is grateful to God for her husband whom she described as a good father who loved and cared for his and his country.
“Amos was an intellectual and a committed progressive who people loved; nevertheless, it is always good to say thank God for his life. And this is how I always remember him; his intellectual ability and commitment to progressivism in Liberia,” Madam Sawyer recalled.
The Vicar at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Herman Browne, in his homily said the said the gathering was in remembrance of a statesman, a teacher, a family man and a humanitarian who sacrifices to Liberia cannot be understated.
“The prints of Dr. Sawyer are on the minds of every Liberian and his legacy is spoken of in every corner of our society,” the Episcopal Church prelate pointed out.
Dew Mayson, Cousin of the deceased, said Amos was a source and a pride of the Liberian progressive community and the society at large.
“Everyone, even our African leaders and those from Europe and the West sought his input on pressing issues of national and international concern, though we were in war” Mr. Mayson noted.
“Sawyer passed away as a servant of the people, but he lives on as his passing away is only physical but he will never pass away,” Togba-Nah Tipoteh said during the memorial program.
He remembered Sawyer and the progressives always said, “WE” and never “I” because others were always inclusive in the struggle for the sake of a better Liberia.
Dr. Sawyer was a founding member of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA), and first chairperson of the Liberian People’s Party (LPP).
Before his death, Dr. Sawyer served in the following position: President of the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU), chairman of the Governance Commission (GC) during the tenure of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf; chairman and lecturer department of Political Science at the University of Liberia in 1970s and 1980s; and chairman of the National Constitution Commission from 1981 to 1983 which produced the present day 1986 Liberian Constitution.
At regional level, Sawyer served as Chairperson of the African Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons, the body that conducts the peer review for the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRAM).
