The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has officially announced the nominees for the highly anticipated 49th edition of the SWAG Awards, scheduled for January 24, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Center.
This prestigious event, which has been honoring sports excellence since 1975, continues to stand as the longest-running awards scheme in the country, celebrating the remarkable achievements of Ghana’s athletes and sports officials.
In a statement released by SWAG General Secretary Charles Osei Asibey, it was revealed that over 80 athletes and officials have been shortlisted for recognition this year.
The nominees have demonstrated exceptional performance and commitment to their respective sports, with standout athletes such as African high jump queen Rose Yeboah and Grace Mintah leading the race for the top honors.
The SWAG Awards aim to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of individuals and teams that have significantly contributed to the development of sports in Ghana. Categories range from Athlete of the Year to Team of the Year, with each nominee representing the pinnacle of sporting excellence.
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
– Abdul Rasheed Williams (Believer) – 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 Federations
– Ghana Badminton Association
– 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 Princesses – 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
– Winnifred 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
– Yussif Basigi – Black Princesses
– Desmond Offei – Black Satellites
– 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 Footballer 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
– To Be Announced
SWAG Long Service Award – Media
– To Be Announced
SWAG Sports Journalist of the Year
– To Be Announced