47th MTN SWAG Awards launched: 36 outstanding sports personalities to be honored

The 47th edition of the MTN SWAG Awards was officially unveiled on Wednesday at the MTN premises in Accra, setting the stage for honoring 36 exceptional sports figures.

Afua Serwaa Asafo Adjei Boateng, the Communications Advisor at MTN Ghana Corporate Development, applauded the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) for their unwavering commitment to maintaining the awards over the years.

She highlighted that 2022 is a bustling year for sports and commended SWAG for their efforts to acknowledge the accomplishments of sports professionals. Reflecting on the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, she expressed hopes for Ghana’s excellent performance in the tournament.

Boateng further called upon the business community in Ghana to bolster SWAG and its initiatives.

Thomas Boakye Agyeman shed light on the forthcoming awards scheduled for early next year, revealing that a nine-member committee is diligently working on the nominations. The final award recipients, he said, would be approved and voted on by sports federations, SWAG members, and executives, with the final list being announced on December 31.

SWAG President Kwabena Yeboah underscored that SWAG has been recognizing outstanding sportsmen and women for the past 46 years. He emphasized that while the awards aim to motivate and inspire sports personalities, the escalating cost of organizing them each year poses a significant challenge.

He extended his gratitude to MTN Ghana for their steadfast support over the last 12 years. Reiterating the continued recognition of the SWAG journalist of the year, he appealed to the President and Vice President of Ghana for their support for sports journalism.

Yeboah shared plans to approach businesses for sponsorship for the prestigious awards. He announced that Adamus Mining Resources, a mining company, will be co-sponsoring the upcoming awards. A total of 25 individual and 10 special awards, along with the SWAG President’s Award, will be presented.

Gina Fiagbenu Asare, Senior Manager at the Corporate Department, expressed MTN Ghana’s pleasure in hosting sports journalists and their continued commitment to Ghana’s longest-running awards, aimed at honoring sports heroes.

She praised SWAG Awards for their 46-year uninterrupted run and emphasized the need for innovative ways to recognize and appreciate heroes, drawing parallels with the MTN Heroes Of Change initiative.

Secretary General of SWAG, Charles Osei Asibey expressed his gratitude to MTN Ghana and encouraged sports journalists to elevate the profile of the SWAG Awards.

The launch event was moderated by Ohene Brenya, an executive member of SWAG.