The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has unveiled the nominees for the 49th edition of its annual awards ceremony, which celebrates sports excellence in the country. The SWAG Awards, Ghana’s longest-running award scheme, has been recognizing the outstanding achievements of sportsmen, sportswomen, and officials since 1975.
The event, which honors the contributions of individuals involved in sports development, will take place on Friday, January 24, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Center, starting at 6 pm.
A statement released by the General Secretary of SWAG, Charles Osei Asibey, revealed that over 80 top-performing athletes and officials who have significantly contributed to the development of sports in the past year have been shortlisted for recognition.
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
- 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
- SWAG LONG SERVICE AWARD – MEDIA
- SWAG SPORTS JOURNALIST OF THE YEAR
