Accra, May 14, GNA - The Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama has underscored the need to integrate sports and education to promote excellence in sports.

The Veep said it was in this direction that the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports has over the years provided funding to develop school sports throughout the country.

Alhaji Mahama who said this at the 31st Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards ceremony on Saturday added that grooming talents for the country through the educational institutions is a brilliant way towards raising the standards of sports.

He said 26.6 billion cedis has been approved for the ministry to construct multi-purpose courts with movable posts for volley ball, basketball, handball, netball and tennis among others s well as for the purchase of equipment for all major disciplines for the schools. Part of the funding, he emphasised would be used for scholarship and bursaries for outstanding sporting talents.

Alhaji Mahama was buoyant that within a few years of the implementation of the policy of identifying talents and fashioning out well-designed sports-based initiatives in the schools, Ghana should be able to produce disciplined and well groomed sports men and women capable of taking 'the world by storm'.

He said the country's modest achievement in the year under review must convince all that "we can do far better in sports if we pursue our goals in sports promotion and development".

The Vice President mentioned the promotion of professionalism, provision of infrastructure, recruiting and training of qualified coaches and administrators as among measures that would help propel sports towards achieving the desired results.

He called on Ghanaians to support the Black Stars as they begin their maiden World Cup campaign against Italy in a Group E opener when the Mundial commences.

He encouraged the team as they engage the Czech Republic and the United States of America (USA) to make Ghana proud at the championship which draws together the best in the would and passes as soccer's biggest showpiece.

The Black Stars were crown the 'Team of the Year' at the ceremony, which included rewards to 21 other distinguished personalities.

For the third time running, long jumper Ignatius Gaisah emerged the 'Sports Personality of the Year' for his outstanding performances under the year of review. Gaisah, who was also crowned as the winner of the 'Male Athlete of the Year' award, was a silver medallist at the World Athletics Championship in Helsinki last year where he set a new national record of 8.34 meters and finished the year as the third best in the world by the IAAF.

Heptathelete queen, Margaret Simpson achieved a hat trick as the 'Female Athlete of the Year'.

Black Stars skipper, Stephen Appiah was adjudged the 'Player of the Year'.

Ghana's number one seed, Henry Adjei-Darko was adjudged the 'Tennis Star of the Year', Prince Tagoe- 'Goal-king', Hearts of Oak Sporting Club - 'Top Scoring Club of the Year' with Justus Agbeko winning the 'Referee of the Year' award.

Other award winners include Issah Ahmed, 'Premier League Player of the Year', Mercy Adu-Boahen - 'SWAG Female Footballer of the Year', Philemon MacCarthey- 'Most Promising Star', Ebenezer Frimpong - 'Male Hockey Star of the Year', Ramatu Abass -'Female Hockey Star of the Year' and Salamatu Musa - 'Discovery of the Year'.

Ruby Aryee won the 'Dedication and Valour' award with special awards going to Ike "Bazooka" Quartey, Goldfields Ghana Limited, headline sponsors of the Black Stars, Guinness Ghana Breweries Limited and Mr S. Oduro Nyarko of Okwahu United.