In the Third Republic, he was again elected MP but gave up the seat to be in Hilla Limann's cabinet as Minister for Transport and Communications from 1979 to 1981.

He entered Achimota College in 1947, but on the sudden death of his father that year, Sawyerr's degree studies ended due to lack of funds.

[2] He worked as a District Valuer at the Lands Department in Accra from 1955 to 1958, then left public service to establish a private consultancy from 1958 to 1962.

[3] He was Convener of the Association of Recognised Professional Bodies (ARPB), from 1971 to 1979 and led the organisation to object to military governance in Ghana.

[4] In March 1983, the PNDC government appointed Sawyerr as chairman of the newly-established Land Valuations Board.

[5] His political career began as a member of the Ghana Congress Party led by Kofi Abrefa Busia.

[10] In 1992, Sawyerr and veteran politicians; Sam Okudzeto, Patrick Quaidoo and E. A. K. Akuoko formed the New Generation Alliance as a political movement in anticipation of a democratic return.

[14][19] In 2011, Sawyerr was decorated with the Companion of the Order of the Volta, the highest award in Ghana, by the then President John Evans Atta Mills.