Gaisah Blasts SWAG officials on Awards

Ghana’s African long-jump record holder, Ignatius Gaisah, has expressed his utmost surprise and disappointment at the organization of this year’s annual Sports Writers Association of Ghana (SWAG) Awards which took place last Saturday, September, 2007, at the Banquette Hall of the State House.

The award, which is organized annually to reward hard working and deserving Ghanaian sports personalities, this year, saw the topmost award, Sports Personality of the year going to Black Stars skipper, Stephen Appiah, after he has been voted as the best, beating fellow deputy Stars skipper, John Mensah and long jumper, Ignatius Gaisah.

According to Gaisah, who had won the SWAG Sports Personality Award on three consecutive times, he was not treated fairly by officials of SWAG, as he claimed he was only contacted last Friday, thus a day before the event on phone at his base in Kumasi to inform him that he needs to come down to Accra the next evening since he has being nominated for the award.

He said ‘I am not small boy to be invited to such an event just a day before. They should have done the better thing since they are professionals’ ‘At least I should have been informed three days earlier or more’ he added. According to Gaisah, he attended his maiden award four years ago after being handed a ticket by SWAG officials to fly down for the event.

The second he claims, became mandatory to attend due to the fact that the event was been organized at his native, Kumasi and also he needed to pay enough respect to the Ashanti King, Otomfuo Osei Tutu II, who was the special guest of honour.

Asked if he would have made these same comments should he have won the topmost award for the fourth time, he answered ‘all that I am requesting is for the SWAG officials to take the appropriate steps in their next organization of the event.

Though missing at last Saturday’s event, Gaisah was however named by SWAG as the Male Athlete of the year.

Below is the full list of the award winners

· 2006 SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR - Stephen Appiah

· MALE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR - John Mensah

· FEMALE FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR - Sheila Okine

· SPECIAL MERITORIOUS AWARDS -Richard Kingson -John Mensah

· FEMALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Vida Anim

· MALE ATHLETE OF THE YEAR - Ignatius Gaisah

· DISCOVERY OF THE YEAR - Anita Amankwah

· PROMISING PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Alhaji Saanie Mohamed

· REFEREE OF THE YEAR - Alex Kotey

· PROFESSIONAL BOXER OF THE YEAR - Yakubu Amidu

· AMATEUR BOXER OF THE YEAR - Awusoni Yekini

· VOLLEYBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR- Iddrisu Banousin Wakiki

· HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR (MALE) - Salia Nsalbini

· HOCKEY PLAYER OF THE YEAR (FEMALE) - Emily Aggrey

· WEIGHTLIFTER OF THE YEAR - Majetie Fetrie

· YOUNG GOLFER OF THE YEAR -Nicolo Catto

· FEMALE GOLFER OF THE YEAR - Mona Captan

· DEDICATION AND VALOUR - Cynthia Akweley Lamptey

· CHAIRMAN OF THE YEAR - Cliff Aboagye

· SPECIAL AWARD - Ataa Lartey

· MALE HANDBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Peter Amegashie

· COACH OF THE YEAR - David Duncan

· TEAM OF THE YEAR - Black Stars

· SCRABBLE PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Michael Quao

· FEMALE HANDBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR - Comfort Danso

However, he added that officials shouldas the event is being organized he purchased his own ticket to return home from his Netherland basea day befas heevery year