The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) has received high praise by stakeholders in sports for its work in the 51 years of existence.
SWAG, the umbrella body for the sports media in Ghana founded in 1968 has been solely responsible for honouring Ghanaian sportsmen and women, consistently, for 44 years.
The Sports Writers Association of Ghana recently went to the polls to elect new leadership through an E-Ballot, an innovation many considered excellent and effective.
Speaking at the induction of the new executives of the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) into office at the Accra Sports Stadium, the deputy minister for information, Pius E. Hadzide commended the members for having confidence in their leadership and retaining them in office.
He also congratulated the umbrella body of sports media in Ghana for introducing electronic voting and having a very free and fair election.
Hon. Hadzide promised to add sports journalists to some of the Ministry of Information initiatives on capacity enhancement and others to safeguard journalists.
Also present was Mr Ben Nunoo Mensah, President of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) who commended SWAG for the effective running SWAG Awards for many years and appealed to Sports federations to emulate SWAG in organizing their elections to avoid controversy and litigation.
He again appealed to the sports media to report more on positive news as they stand to benefit with the sportsmen and women if sponsors come on board.
Professor Peter Twumasi, the director-general of the National Sports Authority (NSA) commended SWAG and urged the sports media to support lesser known sports and Ghana’s hosting of the 2023 Africa Games.
Dr Roland Affail Monney, the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) president who inducted the new executives into office praised SWAG for leading in many programmes on the media landscape and urged members to meet the standards of fair reporting and be ethical.
He said, “the GJA have a lot to emulate from SWAG and its leadership”.
President Kwabena Yeboah, thanked members, patrons, stakeholders and sponsors for supporting the association for the past 51 years.
Among the dignitaries that graced the occasion were Ambassador Ray Quarcoo, Madam Gifty Annan Myers, Ken Bediako, Ebo Quansah (all patrons), representatives of MTN Ghana and heads of sports federations.
SWAG inducted into office, Kwabena Yeboah – President, Maurice Quansah – Vice President, Charles Osei Asibey – General Secretary, Thomas Boakye-Agyeman – Deputy General Secretary, Rosalind Amoh – Treasurer, Otuo Acheampong Barima Boadaa – Executive Member and Ohene Brenya Bampoe – Executive Member.t