By Francis Ofori
Accra, Dec 18, GNA – The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG), the umbrella body of sports journalists in Ghana has announced nominees for the 49th edition of the most prestigious SWAG Awards.
Over 80 athletes, officials and corporate bodies have been named to receive various honours at the longest running awards event in the country.
In a statement issued and signed by the General Secretary of the Association and copied to the GNA Sports explained that the SWAG Awards was an occasion and event to celebrate sports excellence.
It added that the event was the longest running award scheme in Ghana that had rewarded top performing Sports Men and Women consistently since 1975 and recognized the efforts of persons involved in Sports development.
The 49th edition is scheduled to take place at the Accra International Conference Center on Friday, January 24, 2025, at 6pm prompt.
Top performing athletes within the year under review and officials who contributed to results and the development of sports have been shortlisted for honours.
High Jumper Rose Yeboah Amoanimaa and Grace Mintah from the Golden Arms are in contention for the topmost award on the night, the SWAG Sports Personality of the Year Award.
Below is the full list of nominees for the 49th SWAG Awards.
CORPORATE AWARDS
- Access Bank
- KGL
- AFE Lotto
MERITORIOUS AWARD
- Mr Ernest Thompson – Football
- Dr Kwaku Ofosu-Asare – 13th African Games
- Ernest Danso – CDM, 13th African Games
DEDICATION AND VALOUR
- Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah Asare – Cricket
- Hannah Akua Humphrey – Taekwondo
- Believer, Matchmaker – Boxing
- Mr Joseph Yaw Appiah – Football
- Carl Lokko – Pro Boxing Trainer
- Alhaji Grunsah – Football Administrator
- New Juaben Table Tennis Club
POSTHUMOUS AWARD
- Dr Emmanuel Owusu-Ansah
STUDENT ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
- William Amponsah – West Texas A&M University
- Mariam Yussif – St Louis Senior High School
- Naseera Efua Kwansah – Effutu Senior High School
REFEREE/UMPIRE OF THE YEAR
- Nii Otoo Larkyne – Armwrestling
- Julien Nunoo – Football
- WO1 Clement Smith Danyagri – Athletics
PROSPECT OF THE YEAR
- Abdul Aziz Issah – Football
- Blessed Abeka Nunoo – Armwrestling
DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR
- Jada Yankey – Swimming
- Ayisha Aminu – Golf
SPORTS ADMINISTRATOR/PRESIDENT OF THE YEAR
- Bernard Quartey – Ghana Boxing Federation
- Charles Osei Asibey – Ghana Armwrestling Federation
- Bawa Fuseini – Ghana Athletics
SWAG TOP FIVE (5) FEDERATIONS
- Badminton Association of Ghana
- Ghana Hockey Association
- Ghana Armwrestling Federation
- Ghana Taekwondo Federation
- Ghana Athletics
- Ghana Swimming Association
- Ghana Boxing Federation
- Ghana Football Association
NATIONAL TEAM OF THE YEAR
- Black Challenge – Amputee Football
- Black Sticks Ladies – Hockey
- Black Satellites – Football
- Black Princess – Football
- Athletics Relay Team
CLUB OF THE YEAR – MALE
- FC Samartex – Football
- Dreams FC – Football
CLUB OF THE YEAR – FEMALE
- Hasaacas Ladies – Football
- Royal Ladies – Hockey
BEACH SOCCER PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Alexander Adjei
CYCLIST OF THE YEAR
- Emmanuel Sesi – Royal Stars Cycling Club
- Victor Cudjoe Akpablu – Gladiators Cycling Club
WEIGHTLIFTER OF THE YEAR
- Winifred Ntumi
TAEKWONDO ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
- Erica Tuagbor
- Kelvin Amuzu
SWIMMER OF THE YEAR
- Abeiku Jackson
PULLER OF THE YEAR – FEMALE
- Grace Mintah – Ghana Police Service
PULLER OF THE YEAR – MALE
- Edward Yamoah Asamoah – Ghana Immigration Service
TABLE TENNIS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
- Israel Aklie
- Joanita Borteye
HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR – MALE
- Benjamin Acquah – Exchequers Hockey Club
HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR – FEMALE
- Elizabeth Opoku – GRA Ladies Hockey Club
- Mavis Ampem Darko – Army Ladies Hockey Club
BOXER OF THE YEAR
- Amadu Mohammed
- Joseph Commey
COACH OF THE YEAR
- Joseph Basigi – Black Princesses
- Desmond Offei – Black Satellite
- Boakye Yiadom – Black Sticks Ladies
- Husseini Akuetteh Addy – Golden Arms
- Dr Ofori Asare – Black Bombers
- Nurudeen Amadu – FC Samartex
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – MALE
- Joseph Paul Amoah
- Edwin Gadayi
- Cadman Evans Yamoah
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR – FEMALE
- Rose Yeboah Amoanimaa
FEMALE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR – HOME BASED
- Ophelia Serwaa Amponsah (Ampen Darkoa Ladies)
- Grace Banwa (Hasaacas Ladies)
- Mukarama Abdulai (Hasaacas Ladies)
FEMALE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR – FOREIGN BASED
- Thelma Baffoe Atuah (TP Mazembe)
- Salamatu Abdulai (Swieqi United, Malta)
- Jennifer Kankam Yeboah (ZED FC, Egypt)
MALE FOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
- Emmanuel Keyeke – FC Samartex
- Stephen Amankona – Berekum Chelsea
- Abdul Aziz Issah – FC Barcelona
SWAG SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR
- Grace Mintah – Armwrestling
- Rose Yeboah Amoanimaa – Athletics
SWAG PRESIDENT’S AWARD
SWAG LONG SERVICE AWARD – MEDIA
SWAG SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
GNA