The Black Stars duo Antoine Semenyo and Benjamin Asare emerged as top winners at the 50th Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards gala, held last Saturday night.
Staged at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC), the golden jubilee edition featured the country’s past and present sporting greats gathering under one roof in a glittering celebration of achievement.
The Bournemouth forward, Antoine Semenyo, who has been on fine form in the English Premier League (EPL), clinched the SWAG Male Footballer of the Year (Foreign-Based) Award while the Accra Hearts of Oak goalkeeper, Benjamin Asare, captured the SWAG Male Footballer of the Year (Home-Based) accolade after a standout domestic campaign.
Both men were absent on the night, having travelled with the Black Stars for their international friendly matches against Japan and South Korea.
The Black Queens also enjoyed a memorable evening, with Chantelle Boye-Hlorkah winning the SWAG Female Footballer of the Year (Foreign-Based) award, while Chantelle Comfort Yeboah – recognised separately for her domestic performances – took home the SWAG Female Footballer of the Year (Home-Based) prize for her stellar 2025 season.
Ghana’s male 4x100m relay team was crowned National Team of the Year after a sensational season on the track.
Veteran Sudan national team coach James Kwasi Appiah earned the prestigious Coach of the Year award, reaffirming his status as one of Ghana’s most respected technical brains.
The University for Development Studies (UDS) football team, champions of the 2024 FISU World Championship, received SWAG’s highest honour – the SWAG Football Personality of the Year – after their historic triumph in China.
Nelson, long-crowned Boxinghene (King of Boxing), has received virtually every top SWAG honour during his storied career and remains an enduring national treasure.
Other ambassadors named included former Black Stars Captains Stephen Appiah, Michael Essien, Kwadwo Asamoah, former Black Queens greats Alberta Sackey and Adjoa Bayor as well as retired heptathlete Margaret Simpson.
Lifetime honours for Gyan, Ayew
Former Black Stars captains Asamoah Gyan and André Ayew were among several icons presented with the SWAG Lifetime Achievement Award.
They joined Ghana’s first world boxing champion D.K. Poison (David Kotei), Ibrahim Sunday, Dan Owusu, handball stalwart Beresford Amui and former Hearts of Oak CEO and Gbese Mantse, Nii Ayibonte II, in receiving the distinguished honour.
Night of stars
Vice-President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang graced the landmark ceremony, serving as Special Guest of Honour; alongside the Minister of Sports and Recreation, Kofi Adams; AIPS President Gianni Merlo; and the heads of Sports Journalists’ Unions from Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Togo and Benin.
In her keynote address, the Vice-President reaffirmed the government’s resolve to establish a School Sports Authority to oversee sports from basic to tertiary levels.
The proposed authority will coordinate regular inter-school and inter-university competitions, while strengthening youth talent identification and addressing long-standing infrastructural challenges through a new Fixed Asset Coordinating Unit under the National Sports Authority.
The Sports Minister challenged SWAG to drive a new era of sports journalism—one that supports national development rather than merely fuelling controversy.
List of winners
Badminton Player of the Year: Obaponba Adu
Table Tennis Players of the Year: Emmanuel Kummey & James Marfo (joint winners)
Wrestler of the Year: Fuseinu Issah
Hockey Player of the Year: Vivian Nakor
Para Athlete of the Year: Zirnabu Issah
Discoveries of the Year: Yayra Akos Agozi (Female); Michael Agyapong Mensah (Male)
Dedication and Valour Awards: Portia Boakye & Yaw Agyemang
Referee of the Year: Daniel Laryea
Club of the Year: Police Ladies FC
Sport Administrator of the Year: Evans Yeboah
SWAG Sports Journalist of the Year: Bill Eshun
The post 50th SWAG Awards gala: Semenyo & Benjamin Asare emerged biggest winners appeared first on The Business & Financial Times.
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