Dancing striker Asamoah Gyan has won this year's Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) flagship award, sports personality of the year, at a function in Accra over the weekend.
Nicknamed Baby Jet, Gyan also left the State House last Saturday evening with the footballer of the year award in a category that had intelligent midfielder Dede Ayew and experienced goalkeeper Richard Kingson as competitors.
The Sunderland forward, who beat International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight champion Joseph Ageko and Kingson for the topmost prize, was instrumental in the Black Stars' success story in the Angola Nations Cup and the South Africa 2010 World Cup, scoring three goals apiece in both tourneys.
He arrived in England from France (Rennes) for a stunning 15 million Pounds and he justified the fat purse by scoring some spectacular goals for the Black Cats until he got injured in the latter part of the English Premiership.
Former Black Stars captain Stephen Appiah picked the dedication and valour award for his meritorious service to the nation.
GFA boss Kwasi Nyantakyi picked the chairman of the year award, while the professional boxer of the year award went to Joseph Agbeko.
It was the Black Stars that won the team of the year award with hockey player Jonny Botsio emerging the promising star of the year.
Commonwealth bronze winner Anita Fordjour and Aziz Zakari won the athlete of the year in the female and male categories respectively.
Felix Lartey reigned supreme in the male table tennis category, while Beatrice Gyasi won the female category.
The male hockey player of the year went to Salia Nsalbini, with the female prize going to Extinguishers' Ramatu Abass. The Amateur boxer of the year prize went to Commonwealth bronze medalist Awusoni Yekini, while Nii Saka (Joseph Mingle) and Lawrence Nyanyo Nmai excelled in kickboxing.
George Osei and Grace 'Tico' Afriyie distinguished themselves to win the best golfer prizes, while New Edubiase's Mumuni Abubakari won the premiership player of the year award.
Special prizes went to Kevin Prince Boateng, Dede Ayew, Stanbic Bank, Fred Pappoe and Rev E.D. Nii Koi, among others.
The special guest of honour Danny Jordaan, South Africa 2010 LOC chairman, commended SWAG for recognizing the efforts of sportsmen in the country.
The president of SWAG, Ackah Anthony, noted that the premise of the awards ceremony was based on the adage that a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for. He commended MTN and other sponsors for supporting SWAG.
By Kofi Owusu Aduonum
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