The Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) will this year honour journalists at the 44th edition of the MTN SWAG Awards Night scheduled for the Accra International Conference Center on May 11.
This would be the first time in the history of the association’s awards ceremony in recognition of the work of the sports journalists.
SWAG believes the move will go a long way to encourage the young and upcoming journalists who are looking at venturing into sports journalism.
Speaking on the sidelines of the launch of the event on Monday, Mr. Kwabena Yeboah, President of the Association stated that sports journalists across the country work tirelessly all year round to help shape the sporting industry in the country.
However, there is little or no recognition for their efforts and this has been a major concern for SWAG.
“Questions have been raised over the years why SWAG honours sports men and women as well as institutions and organizations associated with sports yet leave out our own. Was it that as a body we do not believe in our own?”
Members have over the years have a cause to complain and made a strong case for SWAG to have a look at honouring sports excellence in the sporting media so as to urge the young and upcoming members,” he said.
SWAG, he stated, agrees with and believes the time had come for the scripts to be re-written for SWAG to have a look at these concerns.
Mr. Yeboah said this year’s event will have special awards for the best sports journalist in both male and female category to be known as the ‘SWAG President’s Award’.
“Because this is late we are not going to go across board to select but I will have the privilege as the president to carefully select one or two distinguished sports journalists to be rewarded however from next year SWAG will empanel an unbiased and experienced body of journalists with distinctive award criteria to monitor and pick deserving awardees.”
The long term plan, he said, is to gradually introduce a new sports awards scheme to be known as the SWAG Sports Journalists Awards Night, solely to honour distinguished and deserving sports journalists in the country for their service to sports development in the country.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
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