Akilagpa Sawyerr

Akilagpa Sawyerr (2 March 1883 – 13 December 1948), born Gosford Collins Sawyerr and also known as '''Akilagpa Osabramba Sawyerr, He helped to establish the National Congress of British West Africa, a body that agitated for African self-government and also the political party known as the Accra Ratepayers Association, whose goal was to elect members to the Accra town council and eventually Parliament.

From 1932 to 1946, he served on the Accra Town Council and, in 1947, he became a member of the Legislative Council of the Gold Coast as a representative for the capital.

Early life and education Sawyerr was born in Accra on 2 March 1883. both in Sierra Leone. in 1906

Career and political activism Sawyerr became politically active while studying in London. He was a contemporary of Alfred Nikita Mangena. They were both studying for the bar exams at Lincoln's Inn

After finishing his studies, Sawyerr returned to the Gold Coast, where he set up in private practice in 1920. whose objects were "educating public opinion generally as to the proper methods of electing people to the Town Council and a municipal member to the colony's Legislative Council." The committee would lead to the establishment of the Central National Committee, Sawyerr was subsequently elected to the Legislative Council as a representative for Accra for the Accra Ratepayers' Association political party; he gave his maiden speech in March 1947.

Personal life Sawyerr was also a keen sportsman and member of numerous sports and social organisations. He was the founder of the Tudu Lawn Tennis Association and the Rodger Club and co-founder of the Accra Turf Club. He was also a member of the Gold Coast Red Cross and a patron of the Masqueraders Association of Accra.

Sawyerr married Charlotte Amy Mettle. One of their children is the academic, Akilagpa Sawyerr.

Sawyerr died on 13 December 1948 at age 65.