The 41st MTN sponsored Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards, which is aimed at rewarding distinguished sports men and women who excelled in their various fields of endeavor in the year 2015, has been launched.
The awards, which is the flagship of the sporting media fraternity in Ghana will be held on June 4, at the Banquet Hall, State House and will see close to 30 distinguished sportsmen and women as well as corporate bodies being honored in both competitive and non-competitive categories.
Speaking at the launch on Wednesday at the MTN House, Ridge, the President of SWAG, Mr. Kwabena Yeboah noted that the SWAG awards, is the most prestigious and longest running awards in the country and without any fear of contradiction.
He stated that It’s another sporting year, which means the SWAG has yet another responsibility to honour distinguished sportsmen and women for the year under review.
“I make no attempt to sound presumptuous nor magisterial, but I dare stress, SWAG never gets jaded nor wearied as we continue a tradition that has travelled 40 long years.
According, Indeed, at the risk of sounding boringly monotonous, let me crave your indulgence to restate our cliché- the SWAG Awards is the longest running in Ghana’s history.
Mr. Yeboah, acknowledged headline sponsor, MTN Ghana, stating, “SWAG is proud to have such a reliable ally in MTN, the nation’s leading Communications giants and undoubtedly the very best on the African continent.’
On reasons why a change in the date for this year’s event, Mr. Yeboah stated, “Traditions, we do know, die hard. But SWAG decided to part with our old tradition of holding the event late in the year to June 4 to offer meaning to the Awards Nite as the late calendar often left patrons in total stir and perplexity.”
Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, Corporate Affairs Services manager for MTN, said, “her outfit six year relationship with SWAG has been one without regret and pledged their continuous support to the association so together they can uplift the awards to a higher pedestal while helping in the development of sports in general in the country.”
As the main sponsor she presented a cheque to the tune GH¢40,000 to the president of SWAG Mr. Yeboah to confirm their renewed relationship between the two institutions.
List of nominees & award winners for the 41st MTN SWAG Awards Night
Sports Personality of the Year Andre Ayew, Asamoah Gyan Yusif Basigi Bashiru Hayford
Footballer of the Year Andre Ayew Asamoah Gyan Harrison Afful
Premier League Star of the Year Eric Opoku (Ashgold) Kennedy Ashia (Liberty Pros) Richard Ofori (Wa All Stars).
National Team of the Year Black Queens – The female national team Golden Rackets - National Tennis Team
Coach of the Year Yusif Basigi (Black Queens, Hasaacas Ladies) Bashiru Hayford (Ashgold) Henry Quansah (Golden Rackets)
Professional Boxer of the Year Richard Commey Amateur Boxer of the Year David Bawa
Athlete of the Year (male) John Ampomah
Athlete of the Year (female) Nadia Eke
Para-Athlete of the Year Patrick Yaw Obeng
Female Hockey Player of the Year Jonny Botsio Female Hockey Player of the Year Nafisatu Umaru
Table Tennis Star of the Year Felix Lartey, Bernard Joe Sam, Emmanuel Commey, Derrick Abrefa
Judoka of the Year (female) Szandra Szogoli Judoka of the Year (male) Emmanuel Nartey (All Africa 60kg bronze)
The Taekwondo Star of the Year David Adjetey.
Association Chairman/President of the Year Frederick Otu Lartey of the Ghana Taekwondo Association (GTA).
Discovery of the Year Richard Seklorwu (long jump gold medallist, Commonwealth Youth Games in Samoa)
Discovery of the Year Joseph Tindan Kuyon (silver medallist, World Children Taekwondo Culture Festival in South Korea)
Most Promising Star: Joel Fameyeh. Dedication and Valour: Stephen Oduro (Asante Kotoko) Lifetime Achievement Award: Sophia Okulley (women’s football) The Special Awards Asamoah Gyan (sports philanthropy). The Special Awards Eben Annang Whyte (development of table tennis) The Special Awards Police Women’s Hockey team (silver medallist, African Clubs Championship).