The 43rd edition of the MTN SWAG Awards was held on Friday evening at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), as various athletes who excelled in the year 2017 were honoured for making Ghana proud in their respective disciplines.

Reigning World Boxing Organisation (WBO) Super Bantamweight champion Isaac Dogboe won the topmost award for the night as he was crowned the Sports Personality of the Year.

The youngest boxing champion excelled in the 2017 as he defeated Cesar Juarez to become the Interim Champion and subsequently defeated Jessie Magdaleno for the substantive title.

Dogboe expressed his gratitude to the oragnisers for honouring him as well those who have supported him in his course.

“In all things we gave thank the Almighty God for the victory and without the support of the entire nation this wouldn’t have been possible. Thank you SWAG for your recognition and taking this award is not my own accord, but the collective effort of those involved in the build up to the fight,’’ the Champion stated.

Other categories saw Atletico Madrid’s versatile player, Thomas Teye Partey win the best foreign-based player for tremendous outing for the Black Stars as well as his terrific display for Atletico Madrid in the Spanish La Liga and UEFA competitions.

Former Accra Hearts of Oak midfielder Thomas Abbey was crowned the best local-based player after netting 13 goals in 27 league matches for the Phobians as he further propelled Ghana’s home based national team (Black Stars B) to win the 2017 WAFU Cup held at in Ghana.

Aduana Stars gaffer, Yussif Abubakar was best coach of the year after leading the ‘Ogyaa Boys’ to their second league title and have qualified for the group stages of this year’s CAF Confederation Cup.

Herbert Mensah was also named the Association President of the year having changed the face of Rugby in the country as Ghana finally gained recognition by the World Rugby and won the 2017 West African Zone B Championship.



Below is the full list of winners:

SWAG personality of the year

Isaac Dogboe

Footballer of the Year (FORIEGN)

Thomas Teye Partey

Footballer of the Year (LOCAL)

Thomas Abbey

Most Promising Star

David Abanga

Para-Athlete of the year

Haruna Tahiru

Kickboxer of the year

Alhassan Okine

Cyclist of the year

Anthony Boafo Danquah Boakye

Volleyball player of the year

Richard Amanor



Male Badminton player

Emmanuel Yaw Donkor

Badminton player of the year

Grace Atipaka

Weightlifter of the year

Christian Amoah

Player of the year

Salia Nsabila

Association President of the year

Hebert Mensah

Coach of the Year

Yusif Abubakar



Dedication & Valour

George Bankole (Handball)

Ofori Asare (Boxing)

Discovery of the year

Suzzy Dede Teye (Ladystrikers/ black maidens)

Isaac Nii Amugi (Armwrestler)

Golfer of the year

Vincent Torgah

Female team of the year

Ampem Darkoa Ladies

Special Awards

Alex Asante

Dr. Kojo Benjamin Taylor

Dr Martin Engman

Dr Paa Kwesi Ndoum