Black Stars full back Harrison Afful surprisingly beat off the more established Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew to win the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Footballer of the Year award.
The top honour was bestowed on the Columbus Crew defender for his exploits last season with his former club Esperance de Tunis, in what turned out to be his last season in North Africa.
In the highly anticipated awards held at the State House banquet hall in Accra, young Martha Bissah won athlete of the year, after she excelled at the Youth Olympic Games held last August in Nanjin, China.
Other awards included an award for dedication and valour to the legendary Ali Jarrah, as well as awards for distinguished sports personalities like Tony Baffoe and Magnus Rex Danquah, for their contributions to the development of Ghana sports.
The Sports Writers Association of Ghana is the umbrella body of all the nation’s esteemed sports writers. Currently heading the association is ace broadcaster and commentator, Kwabena Yeboah.
Full awards list below…
Footballer of The Year: Harrison Afful
Premiership Player of the Year: Augustine Okrah
Discovery of the Year: Martha Bissah
Promising Star of the Year: Sharon Akwei (Para Tae-kwondo)
Female Footballer of the Year: Jennifer Cudjoe
Amateur Boxer of the Year: Umar Abdul Walid
Professional Boxer of the Year: Richard Commey
Judoka Of the Year: Razak Abugri
Tae-Kwondo Player of the Year: Sharon Akwei
Hockey Player of the Year: Elizabeth Opoku
Athlete of the Year: Martha Bissah
Coach of the Year: Isaac Nii Odartey Lamptey
Dedication & Valour: Ali Jarrah
Referee of the Year: J.O. Lamptey
Special Awards:
Edmund Zankoh – Contribution to the development and promotion of hockey in Ghana.
Anthony Baffoe- Contribution to the development of football, esp. at the World Cup Brazil 2014.
Magnus Rex Danquah – Contribution to the development of sports in Ghana.
Akolya Pattel – Contribution to the development and promotion of cricket in Ghana.
Corporate Awards.
McDan Ghana Limited – Contribution to the development and promotion of Tennis in Ghana
Dwadifo Adanfo – Contribution to the development of hockey in Ghana.