Ajara Mohammed is the 2011 Sports Personality of the Year

Accra, June 11, GNA – Ajara Mohamed Busonga, has been crowned by the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) as the 2011 Sports Personality after shrugging of stiff opposition from Black Stars players, Andre Dede Ayew and Harrison Afful.

The Paralympic athlete who won two gold medals at the 2011 All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique, was named the winner of the top most award after months of speculation.

The Kumasi-based athlete, took home a beautiful crystal trophy, a certificate and souvenirs from headline sponsors MTN, as well as Akosombo Textile Limited and a fully installed DSTV from Multichoice Ghana Limited as her prize.

Ajara's award made her the first disabled athlete to have received the award in the 37 years of the event, held at the plush Banquet Hall, State House, Accra at the week-end.

Ayew, however, emerged the Footballer of the Year, after overcoming challenge from Emmanuel Agyemang Badu and Afful.

Nania FC was named Club of the Year, whilst the Black Meteors took home the National Team of the Year.

New Edubiase FC sensation, Emmanuel Baffour picked two Awards - the Premiership Player of the Year and Top Scorer for the year 2011, with the Dedication and Valour crown going to heptathlon queen Margaret Simpson.

Black Stars coach Kwasi Appiah won the Coach of the Year Award after guiding the Black Meteors to win a historic gold in the last All African Games, while Felix Lartey grabbed the Table Tennis Player of the Year.

Aikins Opoku Danso and Grace Mensah reigned supreme in the male and female hockey categories respectively with the Association Chairman of the year going to Francis Adjetey Sowah, while Patrick Obeng picked the Male Athlete of the Year award.

Ophelia Swanye received the Promising Star of the year prize with Fatao Alhassan emerging as the Taekwondo player of the year.

Braimah Kamoko aka 'Bukom Banku' picked the Professional Boxer of the year prize.

Special Awards went to Gold Fields Ghana Limited, national athlete Aziz Zakari, B.B Bismark, Golden Mike Promotions, Freeman Kwame, Stephen Kofi Antwi and Beach Volleyball team.

MTN's CEO, Michael Ikpoki in his corporate message read, “MTN cherishes the relationship it has built with SWAG for the past three years. We believe that public recognition stimulates professional pride and this is one of the reasons we have been supporting the only sports awards in the country.”

Gianni Merlo, President of International Sports Press Association (AIPS) who was the Special Guest of Honour noted that, match fixing and corruption are gradually killing competitive nature of sports globally.

“I am passionate about stamping out corruption and match-fixing in all sports, as these are the two single most issues which I believe will affect our profession to such an extent that we could face a time when the public does not even believe what we write or report, or worse, not read at all.”

Ackah Anthony, President of SWAG, stated “We have demonstrated over the years that we are indeed committed to sports development in the country, with each year seeing us recognize the efforts of our sportsmen and women who have consistently kept the image of the nation high on the international scene.”

He pointed out that great sports personalities like Professor Azumah Nelson, Abedi Pele and John Mensah, among others have drunk from the inspirational fountain of the SWAG Awards.

GNA