Accra, Aug. 31, GNA - The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has entered into partnership with telecommunications giants, MTN Ghana, to sponsor its 35th edition of the Awards Night, fixed for September 11 at the Banquet Hall, State House, Accra.

The agreement will see MTN who doled out 35,000 Ghana cedis, conferred with the honour of being the headline sponsor for the annual awards, designed to reward sports personalities who distinguished themselves during the year under review.

Ackah Anthony, President of SWAG at the launch of the event, described the partnership and coming on board by MTN as timely, after several challenges in the sourcing for sponsorship to organize the event, which is considered the longest running awards night in the annals of the country.

He said he was convinced that such 'headaches' will soon be an issue of the past as the Association is on the verge of developing a long-term relationship with MTN for future events.

"This will see MTN Ghana taking the role of lead sponsors for three years or more, after struggling to convince them to throw a lifeline at us."

Anthony announced that the awards will take an international dimension with some top notch football administrators expected to add colour with their presence.

Amongst the high level sports dignitaries to grace the occasion are General Seyi Memene, Vice President of the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Dr Amos Adamu, CAF Executive Committee member and President of West Africa Football Union as well as Jacques Anouma, FIFA Executive Committee member and President of the Ivorian Football Federation.

The SWAG President said that 23 sports personalities drawn from the various sporting disciplines will be rewarded for their achievements in 2009, with an expected guest-list of about 700 dignitaries.

Mrs Mawuena Trebarh, Corporate Services Executive of MTN lauded the partnership with SWAG as a milestone in the history of the company, which she said is also in line with the company's commitment towards the development of sports in the country.

"We believe this is the beginning of a long standing relationship between MTN and SWAG. MTN will continue to support journalists in Ghana to build their capacity in various forms to improve on their delivery."

She assured of her outfit's mission to strengthen the relationship with the sports fraternity as well as providing world-class telecommunications products and services.

Mrs Trebarh later presented a dummy cheque for 35,000 Ghana Cedis to SWAG President, Anthony.

Oheneba Charles, a Patron of the Association tasked the Executives to repose the confidence of MTN by organizing a superlative event and ensure that they give the sponsors the expected mileage for a continuous relationship.

Other sponsors and supporters of the event are Stanbic Ghana Limited, Knaf Couture, Blue Skies, Voltic Ghana Limited, Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited and Akosombo Textiles Limited.

Black Stars trio Michael Essien, John Pantsil and Dominic Adiyiah are the contenders for the flagship prize, the "Sports Personality of the Year" award.