Accra, Dec. 15, GNA - The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) on Tuesday, launched the 34th Awards Night at a brief ceremony in Accra. The event, scheduled at the Banquet Hall, State House, Accra, will have 24 sporting personalities receiving honours from the Association for their outstanding performance in 2008.

The event will be under the sponsorship of communication giants Globacom, as well as Voltic Ghana Limited, Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited, Coca Cola Company Limited, Kinapharma Ghana Limited, Akosombo Textiles Limited, State Insurance Company (SIC) and Forewin Ghana Limited. Worlanyo K. Agrah, Chief Executive Officer of the National Sports Council (NSC) who launched the event, commended the Association for promoting and developing sports in the country.

He said the efforts of SWAG in sports promotion and development cannot be underestimated hence the need to give the Association the needed support to continue with their good works.

According to Mr Agrah, sports writers in the country have over the years served as an integral part of society, hence the need to remain circumspect in the kind of information they placed in the public domain. Mr Agrah also commended the Association for acknowledging and exploits and coming out with a list of sports personalities to be recognised, saying "they truly deserve the awards".

Ackah Anthony, President of SWAG said despite the delay in the organization of this year's event, the necessary structures have been put in place to ensure a memorable and successful event. The President said plans are in place to sign a long term contract with a corporate body that will ensure the organization of the next event in the early parts of 2010.

He called on the media to support the event by giving it the necessary publicity.

The following are the list of nominees for three categories; Joshua Clottey, Eric Bekoe - Petrojet FC (Egypt), Sulley Ali Muntari - Inter Milan vying for Sports Personality of the Year Award.

The Footballer of the Year Award category will see John Painstil - Fulham (England), Sulley Muntari - Inter Milan (Italy) and Eric Bekoe - Petrojet FC (Egypt) vying for honours, whilst Dominic Adiyiah - formerly of Heart of Lions, Samuel Inkoom and Eric Bekoe - formerly of Kumasi Asante Kotoko seeking for the Premiership Player of the Year Award. Other categories include; Team of the Year - Black Maidens, Chairman of the Year - Ebo Bartels (GTTA), Promising Player of the Year -Aaron Amoah (New Edubiase), Discovery of the Year - Florence Dadson of the Black Maidens, Special Meritorious Award - Emmanuel Quarshie, (Ebusua Dwarfs), Amateur Boxer of the Year - Bastie Samir, Dedication and Valour - Felix Dowuona (Ghana National Fire Service Handball team), Professional Boxer of the Year - Joshua Clottey.

The others are; Hockey Player of the Year; Male - Elikem Akaba, Female - Georgina Sam, Handball Player of the Year; Male - Innocent Denatsui, Female - Patience Borkor, Table Tennis Player of the Year; Male - Samuel Akayade, Female - Akosua Ketu, Referee of the Year - Mercy Tagoe-Quarcoo and the Goal-King - Eric Bekoe formerly of Asante Kotoko, Six other individuals will receive Special Awards for their outstanding roles in various fields - Gideon Quartey, Chairman of Greater Accra Amateur Boxing Association; Kwame Ampofi Jnr., General Secretary of GTTA; Benson Tongo Baba, President of Ghana Olympic Committee; Prince D. Vanderpuije-Orgle, Chairman of Ghana Cricket Association and Gifty Annan-Myers, Chairman of Ghana Rugby Association. 15 Dec. 09