I have known Professor Akilagpa Sawyerr for 22 years since 1997. In a little over two decades that I have known him I have benefitted immensely from his spirit of kindness, friendship, honesty, faithfulness, selflessness, respect and candidness. Above all my unde rstanding of working as a patriot and Pan· Africanist blossomed. Permit me not to speak about his brilliance and integrity because he is Professor and the Aki!

We bonded together working on three major projects. The first was the implementation of the Structural Adjustment Participatory Review Initiative (SAPRI) project in Ghana from 2001 to 2007; establishing and growing the !DEG into the credible policy research and advocacy institution in Ghana and Africa that it is today is the second; and the third is thinking critically to solve problems of democratic governance and Africa's transformational development.

In the period 1997-2001, I had the prime opportunity of working directly with Professor Akilagpa Sawyerr for five years. Prof. was the Chairman of the Tripartite National Steering Committee (TNSC) that had governance responsibility for the implementation of SAPRI in Ghana. In the four years that we worked together, with me as de facto Secretary to the TNSC, I enhanced my knowledge and sharpened my administrative and professional skills as well as softlanguage in interfacing with and facilitating highpowered tripartite dialogue between well-placed representatives of the World Bank, the Government of Ghana, and the independent Civil Society Coalition (CIVISOC), which together constituted the membership of the TNSC.

The mentoring and coaching I gained in the early years of association with the Professor and others sufficiently equipped me to envision and dream big about setting up and running a leading policy research and advocacy organisation, just call it think-tank, within the span of 12 years. The Institute for Democratic Governance ODEG), of which I am the Founding Executive Director, was conceived over a period of one year and operationalised into action by Professor Sawyerr, and four eminent citizens comprising Rt. Hon. Justice Daniel Francis Annan of blessed memory, Professor Florence Abena Dolphyne, former Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, Mr Ato Ampiah, then President of the Ghana Employers Association, Ambassador Kabra1 Blay Amihere, and yours truly, Emmanuel Obliteifio Akwetey. Currently, Ms. Phyllis Christian is a member of the Council and Professor Akilagpa Sawyerr, our faithful celebrant, the current Chairman and third in succession after the late Justice D. F. Annan and Professor Florence Abena Dolphyne.

It is indeed a beautiful sight to behold Professor Sawyerr and his colleagues on the IDEC Governing Council deliberating and debating the performance of IDEG, its future leadership and long term sustainability at their meetings. IDEC is what it is today and would become in the near future because of the dedicated, tireless, selfless and unparalleled commitment of Professor Sawyerr and his colleagues to the growth, prosperity and long-term sustainability of IDEC. If you would truly like to know who and what has shaped the roles the Accra-based IDEC plays in thought leadership and activism brand that is shaping Ghana's and Africa's 21st Century "Democratization, Active Citizenship and transformational and inclusive development," now you know. Look no farther. May the Good Lord continue to bless you beyond measure, Prof!!