SWAG announces nominees for 49th edition of awards
The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), has announced nominees for the 49th edition of the annual SWAG Awards.
The Awards, an event to celebrate sports excellence, is the longest running award scheme in Ghana that rewards top performing Sports Men and Women consistently since 1975 and recognises the efforts of persons involved in sports development.
A statement from the association’s secretariat said the 49th edition will take place at the Accra International Conference Centres
on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 6pm prompt.
Two athletes, Grace Mintah, an armwrestler and Rose Yeboah Amoanimaa, a high jumper, will compete for the flagship award of SWAG Sports Personality of the Year.
Emmanuel Keyeke – FC Samartex, Stephen Amankona – Berekum Chelsea and Abdul Aziz Issah – FC Barcelona are expected to vie for the Male Footballer of the Year award while Thelma Baffoe Atuah (TP Mazembe), Salamatu Abdulai (Swieqi United, Malta) and Jennifer Kankam Yeboah (ZED FC, Egypt) will vie for the Female Footballer of the Yaer award for the foreign award.
Going for the Female Footballer of The Year – Home Based are Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah (Ampen Darkoa Ladies), Grace Banwa (Hasaacas Ladies) and Mukarama Abdulai (Hasaacas Ladies).
The Boxer of the Year category will attract Amadu Mohammed and Joseph Commey with Joseph Basigi – Black Princesses, Desmond Offei – Black Satellite Boakye Yiadom – Black Sticks Ladies, Husseini Akuetteh Addy – Golden Arms, Dr Ofori Asare – Black Bombers and Nurudeen Amadu – FC Samartex competing for the Coach of the Year award.
The Athlete of the Year – Male will have Joseph Paul Amoah, Edwin Gadayi and Cadman Evans Yamoah compete for the top price Rose Amoaniwaa.
According to the statement, meritorious awards would be granted to Access Bank, KGL, AFE Lotto and individuals like Mr Ernest Thompson – Football, Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare – 13th African Games and Ernest Danso – CDM, 13th African Games.
The dedication and valour category will have Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah Asare – Cricket, Hannah Akua Humphrey – Taekwondo, Rashid Williams (Believer) Matchmaker – Boxing, Mr Joseph Yaw Appiah – Football, Carl Lokko – Pro Boxing Trainer, Alhaji Grunsah – Football Administrator and New Juaben Table Tennis Club while the Posthumous Award is presented to Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah.
The Student Athlete of the Year award will be contested by William Amponsah – West Texas A&M University, Mariam Yussif – St Louis Senior High School and Naseera Efua Kwansah – Effutu Senior High School while the Referee/Umpire of The Year award attracts Nii Otoo Larkyne – Armwrestling and Julien Nunoo – Football as contestants.
Abdul Aziz Issah and Blessed Abeka Nunoo would contest for the Prospect of the Year award while Jada Yankey and Ayisha Aminu contest for the Discovery of the Year award
Other awards to be presented on the day include: Sports Administrator/President of the Year – Bernard Quartey – Ghana Boxing Federation; Charles Osei Asibey – Ghana Armwrestling Federation and Bawa Fuseini – Ghana Athletics.
SWAG Top Five Federations – Badminton Association of Ghana, Ghana Hockey Association, Ghana Armwrestling Federation, Ghana Taekwondo Federation, Ghana Athletics, Ghana Swimming Association, Ghana Boxing Federation and Ghana Football Association.
National Team of the Year – Black Challenge – Amputee Football; Black Sticks Ladies – Hockey; Black Satellites – Football; Black Princess – Football and Athletics Relay Team.
Club of the Year – Male – FC Samartex – Football and Dreams FC – Football. Female – Hasaacas Ladies – Football and Royal Ladies – Hockey. Beach Soccer Player of the Year – Alexander Adjei. Cyclist of the Year – Emmanuel Sesi – Royal Stars Cycling Club and Victor Cudjoe Akpablu – Gladiators Cycling Club.
Weightlifter of the Year -Winifred Ntumi; Taekwondo Athlete of the Year – Erica Tuagbor and Kelvin Amuzu; Swimmer of the Year – Abeiku Jackson; Puller of the Year – Female – Grace Mintah – Ghana Police Service, Male – Edward Yamoah Asamoah – Ghana Immigration Service; Table Tennis Player of The Year – Israel Aklie and Joanita Borteye.
Hockey Player of the Year – Male – Benjamin Acquah – Exchequers Hockey Club; Female – Elizabeth Opoku – GRA Ladies Hockey Club and Mavis Ampem Darko – Army Ladies Hockey Club.
BY TIMES SPORTS REPORTER
