SWAG Crowns Agbeko, Essien

SWAG President (right) outdooring Joe Lartey The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) last Saturday held its annual awards night at the Round Pavilion of the Ghana Trade Fair Center, to honour outstanding sports personalities and corporate bodies which contributed to the development and promotion of sports in the country for the year 2007.

The colorful ceremony was attended by dignitaries like Peter Osei Duah, Managing Director of the State Insurance Company (SIC); Ackah Anthony, President of SWAG; Amarkai Amarteifio, E.T. Kwashie, Ray Quarcoo and Oheneba Charles, all Patrons of SWAG.

Tony Baffoe, an SOS Ambassador and representative of PUMA in Ghana also graced the occasion.

The event which started at about 8.30 pm witnessed Ghana's International Boxing Federation (IBF) Bantamweight champion, Joseph “Fresh King Kong” Agbeko being given the SWAG Personality of the Year award while Chelsea midfielder, Michael Essien won the Footballer of the Year, ahead of compatriots Laryea Kingston and Sulley Muntari.  Each of them took home a certificate, a plaque and products from Akosombo Textiles Limited (ATL).

Other award winners who also got certificates, plaques and products from ATL were Rosina Lomo, Handball Player of the Year; William Afful, Cyclist of the Year; Joseph Appiah, Hockey Player of the year (male); Mirable Lamptey, Hockey Player of the Year (female); National Paralympic team, Team of the Year; Joseph Agbeko, Professional Boxer of the Year; Ajara Mohamed, Athlete of the Year; Ransford Osei, Most Promising Player of the Year; Mousa Narry, Discovery of the Year; and Manyo Plange, Amateur Boxer of the Year.

The rest were John Ainoo, Dedication and Valour; while Daniel Arhin, Margaret Simpson, Golden Sticks of the Ghana Commercial Bank (GCB), Ghana Supporters Union (GHANSU), Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and Atta Eddie Pappoe all received special awards.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Ackah Anthony explained that this year's event was being held very late in the year because the association was hit by the global financial crisis, forcing the event's traditional headline sponsors like Onetouch and other corporate partners to withdraw their financial and material support.

He therefore used the opportunity to appeal to corporate Ghana and philanthropists to assist the association organize next year's awards in the first quarter of the year.

By Pierre Toto