Accra, June 2, GNA - The Sports Association of Ghana (SWAG) in partnership with telecommunication giants, MTN Ghana on Thursday launched a text poll for the 36th MTN SWAG Awards Night.

The text poll is to solicit for public input into the decision process of the SWAG for the two of the topmost awards; 2010 Sports Personality of the Year and Footballer of the Year at the ceremony to be held on Saturday, July 2 at the Banquet Hall, State House in Accra.

For the Sports Personality of the Year, the public are to send their predictions to MTN short code 1340 with SPA for Richard Kingson, SPB for Asamoah Gyan and SPC for Joseph 91King Kong' Agbeko.

The Footballer of the Year will see the public send their preferred choices to MTN short code 1340 with FPA for Andre Dede Ayew, FPB for Asamoah Gyan and FPC for Richard Kingson.

Each text will costs 50 Ghana pesewas and fans can predict as much as possible to secure the attractive prizes at stake. Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, Corporate Services Executive of MTN Ghana said the text poll was to provide a new communication channel to include the public in the selection procedure, create more excitement and get more people to vote for their favorites sport personalities.

She expressed confidence in the Association to organize a memory-filled event whilst pledging her outfit's commitment to extending their 3-year =91marriage' with the sports media organization.

This, she said was based on the favourable responses after partnering the Association during the past two years in events such as seminars in Accra and Kumasi, the 2010 SWAG Nyemitei Cup and the 2010 SWAG Awards Night.

Mrs Trebarh said the partnership confirms their dedication to the development and promotion of sports in the country as evident with their involvement in the MTN FA Cup, the Asantehene Golf Championship in Kumasi and sponsorship of Premier League quartet of Hearts of Oak, Asante Kotoko, Heart of Lions and King Faisal.

She congratulated the new SWAG Executives and pledged her company's readiness to work with them towards the development of sports journalism in the country, whilst commending the former Executives for the current status of the Association.

Ackah Anthony, SWAG President explained that the involvement of the public was to heighten credibility as far as the selection of award winners was concerned as well as provide an added incentive to the public to be part of the excitement.

He expressed gratitude to MTN for the support in the activities of the Association over the past years and appealed to the media to intensify awareness in their quest to organize a wonderful event.

The 36th MTN SWAG Awards Night will see honours being conferred on sportsmen and women who distinguished themselves in the respective fields during the 2010 season.

The Guest of Honour will be Danny Jordaan, Chief Executive of the Local Organising Committee of the South Africa 2010 World Cup who is also the Vice President of the South Africa Football Association.