As the nation celebrates the brilliant forward march of the Black Stars towards the 2026 FIFA World Cup, let’s join the Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) to celebrate their forthcoming Golden Jubilee. Fifty years is no mean journey.
The SWAG has an enviable record of holding the longest national awards in the country since 1974.
Indeed, the idea to form an association exclusively for sportswriters was mooted in 1968 by Kingsley Obeng, a sportswriter of the Ghanaian Times. He mooted the idea following a short visit to Britain, where such a body existed. The idea was readily accepted, and the SWAG was officially inaugurated at a colourful ceremony at the Ambassador Hotel in Accra on August 3, 1968.
The guest of honour was Mr A. K. Deku, then Commissioner for Education, Sports, and Cultural Affairs. This was in the regime of the National Liberation Council that had ousted Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party (CPP) administration.
At its inaugural meeting, Kingsley Obeng, the originator of the idea, was made secretary; Mr Joe Lartey of Radio Ghana was president, with Mr Ben Eghan Aloo of Radio Ghana as his vice. Mr J. K. Addo Twum, Sports Editor of the Daily Graphic, was made treasurer.
Other founding members were Ken Bediako and Yaw Boakye Ofori Atta, both of the Daily Graphic; Willie Kwateng, Joe Aggrey, and Kwamina Longdon of the Ghanaian Times; Vincent Mensah and Eugene Thompson, both of the Ghana News Agency; and Nana Amponah of Radio Ghana.
Unfortunately, after the grand inauguration, the Association became dormant, and after two years in office, changes were effected at the top of the hierarchy, with Willie Kwarteng, Sports Editor of the Ghanaian Times, being entrusted with the mantle of leadership.
Eugene Thompson, Sports Editor of the Ghana News Agency, became the association’s new secretary, but like their predecessors, the new leadership also failed to inject the much-needed vibrancy into the affairs of the Association, and it became necessary to effect changes again in 1973.
The annual awards night is the brainchild of Mr B.B. Bismarck, a keen sports enthusiast and one-time team manager of the Black Stars.
At an informal meeting with the secretary, E. B. Thompson, and founding member Ken Bediako of the Daily Graphic at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, Bismarck, who later became chief of Aburi and Adontenhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, mooted the idea of an annual awards night. He actually bought the first two trophies for the purpose of being the best defender in the National Football League and the goal king.
Akuetteh Armah of Kumasi Cornerstone and Peter Lamptey of Accra Hearts of Oak were the first recipients.
The maiden awards ceremony was held at the Ambassador Hotel in Accra in 1974. It was poorly patronised, and the SWAG eventually had to look for a lot of uninvited guests around the hotel premises to fill the vacant tables.
Two years later, the giant Kumasi Brewery Limited (KBL), headed by the ebullient expatriate sports lover Dennis Beesley, who was later made SWAG patron, offered to sponsor the SWAG Annual Awards. The magnificent Kumasi Brewery Ltd. did it in such a grand manner that it caught national attention, and it easily became the topmost annual national awards event for the sporting fraternity. The fantastic KBL-SWAG deal lasted for nearly two decades.
In the meantime, the SWAG Executive had been once more reshuffled in early 1973, with Oheneba Charles, Editor of the Sporting News, assuming the presidency. His vice was Ken Bediako of the
Daily Graphic with Joe Aggrey of Ghanaian Times as secretary, Ebo Quansah, also with the Ghanaian Times, was deputy secretary, and Addo Twum of the Daily Graphic as honorary treasurer.
The SWAG made gains under Oheneba Charles’s leadership. The awards night and the SWAG cup match were institutionalised. Another feather in the cap of the Oheneba Charles administration was the purchase of a brand new Club House for the Association at Dansoman, a suburb of Accra.
After 12 years in office, the Association decided to elevate Oheneba Charles to the position of Patron in recognition of his hard work and devotion to duty. Again, in consultation with the patrons, Joe Aggrey, then with the Daily Graphic, was appointed President, with Francis Assuah of Ghanaian
Times as his vice, Akwasi Atta Amoah of the Weekly Spectator was made secretary, with Felix Abayateye of the Daily Graphic as his deputy. Sammy Aduagyei of Ghanaian Times was made treasurer.
The Joe Aggrey administration continued the good work of his predecessor. It was, however, decided to move away from the era of appointments of executives to the era of modern-day democratic elections. A new constitution was therefore promulgated to pave the way for democratic elections.
The first-ever SWAG elections were held on Saturday, October 4, 1997, at the SWAG Club House.
Joe Aggrey was returned unopposed as President, likewise his vice, Ebo Quansah. Other officers were Emmanuel Amoako, secretary; Christian Abbew of Weekend Spectator, assistant secretary; and Kwesi Brew of Ghana News Agency, treasurer.
Two executive members were Stanley Twum Barima of The Statesman and George Martinson of Christian Messenger, who were returned unopposed. In early 2001
Ebo Quansah became acting President when Joe Aggrey was appointed Deputy Sports Minister by the Kufuor administration. Ebo Quansah was later confirmed President at the polls in 2002.
Kwabena Yeboah, Editor of Africa Sports, was made vice president.
Other officers were Emmanuel Amoako, secretary; Maurice Quansah, Assistant Secretary and Rosalind Amoh of Daily Graphic. Ben Ohene Ayeh and Kwame Baah Nuako were made executive members.
After Ebo Quansah’s reign came Ackah Anthony of the Daily Graphic, who later handed over the baton to veteran TV sports presenter Kwabena Yeboah, who has been firmly in the saddle for the past years, ably assisted by hard-working Secretary Osei Asibey, formerly of Happy FM, busily planning the Golden Anniversary of arguably one of the most dynamic sports writers associations in Africa.
On a sad note, however, two former SWAG Presidents, Ackah Anthony and Ebo Quansah, have passed away suddenly in quick succession a few weeks ago.
Ebo was buried a few days ago in his beloved hometown, Ekumfi Nkrowfo, in the Central Region, and Ackah will be laid to rest in Accra this weekend.
May their souls rest in perfect peace, as they will be sorely missed at the SWAG Golden Anniversary Awards Night.
For the sake of posterity, let’s highlight the 12 SWAG board of patrons as at the Silver Jubilee in 2004. Surely the SWAG has come a long way.
Cheers, everybody, and keep loving sports.
