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SWAG honours top athletes, officials at its 2024 awards ceremony
The 49th edition of the annual Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) awards was held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC) last weekend.
The awards was for achievements for the year 2024.
It attracted dignitaries including the Vice President, Prof Naana Jane Opoku- Agyemang.
Ghanaian high jumper, Rose Amoanimaa Yeboah, stole the spotlight at the (SWAG) Awards, claiming two of the most prestigious honours of the night – Sports Personality of the Year and Female Athlete of the Year, for her outstanding performance.
Abdul Aziz Issah, who plays for Barcelona B, took home the award as the Prospect of the Year and Male Footballer of the Year.
Other award recipients were Edwin Gadayi- Male Athlete of the Year; Foreign-based Footballer of the Year (Female), Thelma Baffoe Atuah, Home-based Footballer of the Year (Female) went to Mukarama Abdulai, FC Samatex won Club of the Year; National Team of the Year went to Ghana’s Athletics Relay Team; Coach of the Year went to Desmond Ofei (Black Satellites); Boxer of the Year went to Amadu Mohammed with Beach Soccer Player of the Year going to Alexander Adjei.
Table Tennis Player of the Year, Israel Aklie; Volleyball Player of the Year; Rashaka Katadat (Ghana Army); Swimmer of the Year, Abeku Jackson; Cyclist of the Year, Emmanuel Sesi; Taekwondo Athlete of the Year, Kelvin Amuzu; Weightlifter of the Year, Winifred Ntumi; Discovery of the Year, Ayisha Aminu.
Male Hockey Player of the Year, Benjamin Acquah, Female Hockey Player of the Year, Elizabeth Opoku (GRA Ladies); Female Club of the Year, Royal Ladies Hockey Club; Student Athlete of the Year, Mariam Yussif; Admin
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Declare a state of emergency in parts of the country affected by illegal mining – Coalition Against Galamsey to Mahama
The Coalition Against Galamsey is asking President John Mahama to declare a state of emergency in areas badly affected by illegal mining.
According to the Convenor of the Coalition, Dr. Kenneth Ashigbey, the situation has gone beyond control and requires urgent action to save lives and protect the environment.
He explained that the Constitution allows a state of emergency to be declared when the actions of criminals threaten essential resources such as water, safety, and the survival of communities.
He said illegal miners were destroying water bodies and depriving large communities of clean drinking water, which is an “essential of life.”
Dr. Ashigbey stressed that the call was not for the entire country, but only for parts of Ghana where the destruction is severe.
He added that declaring a state of emergency in these areas will give government the legal power to act quickly and decisively.
He also called on the President to provide clear timelines and targets to guide the fight against galamsey.
This, he said, would help demonstrate government’s seriousness and commitment to ending the menace.
The Coalition insisted that declaring a state of emergency was no longer a last resort but an immediate step needed to save Ghanaians and protect the future of the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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The Ghana Bar Association must be non-partisan in the discharge of their duties – Dominic Ayine urges
The Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, has called on the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) to remain non-partisan in the discharge of its duties.
He said the credibility of the legal profession would be at risk if the bar allowed itself to be influenced by political interests.
Speaking at the GBA 2025/ 2026 annual general conference, Dr. Ayine reminded members that their first allegiance was to the Constitution and the Republic, not to any government or opposition party.
He stressed that for over three decades, the GBA had played an important role in helping the Supreme Court interpret and enforce the law, but outside the courtroom, its advocacy had often lacked consistency.
Dr. Ayine pointed to past cases such as the 2015 petition against the former CHRAJ Chairperson, Loretta Lamptey, and the 2017 petition for the removal of Electoral Commission Chairperson, Charlotte Osei, where the bar remained silent.
He noted that the association only found its voice during the petition against former Chief Justice Gertrude Torkornoo, a stance he said coincided with the position of the opposition.
He questioned why the bar acted differently in those situations, especially since all three cases involved women of repute who held positions in key constitutional bodies.
Dr. Ayine urged the GBA to be the conscience of the republic, saying lawyers must defend the rule of law, the independence of the judiciary, and the rights of citizens regardless of which political party was in power.
He warned against inviting foreign interference in Ghana’s constitutional matters, saying international collaboration should be limited to professional exchanges and not politics.
He further encouraged the GBA to promote integrity among its members, strengthen pro bono services to support the poor, and embrace digital reforms such as e-filing and electronic court records to modernize the justice system.
According to him, the destiny of Ghana is tied to the integrity of the legal profession.
He added that if lawyers stand firm, the country will also stand firm, but if they falter, the republic will stumble.
By: Jacob Aggrey
