Sports
Golden Jubilee SWAG Awards Tonight
Call it a night of celebration, where sports and music converge on one stage. The 50th edition of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards will take place tonight at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), promising an evening of glamour, recognition, and entertainment.
The Golden Jubilee edition commemorates 50 years of excellence since the awards’ inception in 1975, honoring Ghana’s best sporting heroes and heroines. The event will not only celebrate the present generation of athletes but also veterans who excelled over the past five decades.
High-profile guests include President John Dramani Mahama, Chief of Staff Julius Debrah, and AIPS President Gianni Merlo.
SWAG has prepared an impressive entertainment lineup, headlined by Afropop star Stonebwoy, with appearances expected from Fameye.
Golden Jubilee Ambassadors
Personalities to be decorated as 50th Anniversary Ambassadors include:
- Margaret Simpson – Athletics
- Azumah Nelson – Boxing
- Abedi Ayew Pele – Football
- Michael Essien – Football
- Kwadwo Asamoah – Football
- Stephen Appiah – Football
- Samuel Osei Kuffour – Football
- Adwoa Bayor – Football
- Alberta Sackey – Football
Awards Highlights for 2024
Coach of the Year: Frimpong Manso (Gold Stars) vs. James Kwesi Appiah (Sudan)
Referee/Umpire of the Year: Daniel Laryea (Football), Francis Yeboah (Badminton), Clement Smith (Athletics)
National Team of the Year:
- Black Queens
- National Badminton Doubles Team
- Golden Arms (Armwrestling)
- Black Cranes (Weightlifting)
Club of the Year: Police Ladies, Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Faith Ladies, Bibiani Gold Stars
Top 5 Federations: Ghana Athletics, Ghana Armwrestling Federation (GAF), Ghana Badminton, Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF), Ghana Cricket Association (GCA), Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU)
Other Awards:
- Athlete of the Year: Abdul Rasheed Saminu
- Boxer of the Year: Gideon Pappoe, George Dowuona, Mathias Ashittey
- Weightlifter of the Year: Emmanuel Amo Boateng
- Footballer of the Year – Male (Foreign Based): Jordan Ayew, Antoine Semenyo, Kudus Mohammed
- Footballer of the Year – Female (Foreign Based): Grace Asantewaa, Chantelle Boye Hlorkah
- Footballer of the Year – Male (Home Based): Stephen Amankona, Benjamin Asare, Razak Simpson
- Footballer of the Year – Female (Local Based): Comfort Yeboah
- Student Athlete of the Year: Phillip Tetteh Odjer (Male, Athletics), Moslina Adu (Female, Badminton)
- Discovery of the Year: Yayra Akos Agozi (Female, Weightlifting), Michael Agyapong Mensah (Male, Table Tennis)
- Swimmer of the Year: Josel Mensah
- Badminton Player of the Year: Obaponba Adu Minta
- Puller of the Year: Mabel Yeboah
- Para-Athlete of the Year: Zainabu Issah
- Meritorious Awards: Moses Adu (Badminton), Husseini Akueteh Addy (Armwrestling)
- Dedication and Valour: Portia Boakye (Football), Yaw Agyeman (Athletics)
- SWAG Lifetime Achievement Award: Brestford Amui (Horse Racing/Administrator), Asamoah Gyan (Football), Andre Dede Ayew (Football), Anthony Yeboah (Football)
- Sports Administrator of the Year: Evans Kojo Yeboah (Badminton)
- Table Tennis Player of the Year: Emmanuel Commey / James Marfo
- SWAG President’s Award: Henry Arko
This year’s awards promise glitter, excitement, and recognition of Ghana’s finest in sports, both past and present, making it a night to remember.
By Andrew Nortey
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The Black Queens will on Wednesday, April 29, learn their opponents for the African qualifying phase of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games Women’s Football Tournament.
The draw, organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), will take place at CAF headquarters in Cairo and will be streamed live on CAF TV from 15:00 local time (12:00 GMT).
Ghana is among 35 national teams participating in the qualification campaign, which will determine the two African representatives for the women’s football tournament at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, scheduled for July 11 to 29, 2028.
The qualification series will be played over five rounds, with each nation aiming to secure one of the two available slots for Africa at the global event in Los Angeles.
Having recently climbed to 59th in the latest FIFA Women’s World Rankings and currently ranked third in Africa, the draw marks the beginning of another major international mission, the quest to seek a return to Olympic football.
GFA COMMUNICATIONS
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) officially awarded the nation the rights to host the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in 2027.
CAF covered the decision in a letter addressed to the General Secretary, Lawyer Prosper Harrison Addo, Esq.
The decision underscores CAF’s strong confidence in the Ghana Football Association’s ability to organize and deliver a tournament that meets the highest standards of youth football on the continent.
Ghana last hosted the competition in 1999 – when the Black Satellites lifted the trophy on home soil amid scenes of national celebration.
Coincidentally, 2027 will mark the 70th Independence anniversary and the competition could be a great part of the celebrations.
CAF says it will work closely with the Football Association and a soon-to-be-established Local Organising Committee (LOC) to ensure the successful planning and execution of the tournament.
This collaboration is expected to focus on infrastructure readiness, logistics, security, and overall fan experience, all aimed at delivering a world-class event worthy of Africa’s growing football stature.
Beyond the excitement of hosting, the tournament represents a broader endorsement of Ghana’s reputation as one of Africa’s premier football hubs.
Over the years, the country has consistently demonstrated its capability to stage high-profile competitions, backed by passionate supporters, improving facilities and a rich football culture.
The CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations holds particular importance in the global football ecosystem. Widely regarded as a breeding ground for future stars, the competition has historically served as a launching pad for some of Africa’s most celebrated players. Many participants have gone on to achieve remarkable success at top European clubs and on the international stage, making the tournament a key showcase of emerging talent.
With history, passion and proven capability on its side, Ghana now stands poised to deliver a memorable and impactful U-20 AFCON tournament, one that could shape the future of African football once again.
