SWAG bags ?42m

THREE individuals and two companies have donated ?42 million to the Sports Writers Association of Ghana towards Saturday’s SWAG Awards Ceremony at La Palm Hotel at which 20 sportsmen and women will be decorated for their contributions to sports development in the country.

They are Mr Michael Twum-Barimah, Managing Director of Mid-West Company Limited, an Accra manufacturing firm which contributed ?10 million, two patrons of SWAG gave ?10 million and ?2 million each Ashanti Goldfields Company Limited and the management of Parlays Ghana Ltd donated ?10 million each.

Making the presentation to SWAG President Ebo Quansah (pictured) at his office in Accra, Mr Twum Barimah expressed the hope that his contribution would help motivate sportsmen and women to aid the growth and development of sports in the country.

Himself a ken sportsman (he plays Tennis regularly), Mr Twum-Barimah asked sports authorities to endeavour to improve sporting installations and facilities in the country to aid Ghanaian sportsmen and women to compete internationally on an even footing.

He asked the SWAG to educate sports fans to be abreast of the rules and regulations for the various sporting disciplines in order for them to appreciate decisions by referees and umpires and thus curb the tendency for the misguided few to bring sports in the country into disrepute.

The cheque from Ashanti Goldfields was presented by Mr Kwamena Anaman, Managing Director in charge of Corporate Affairs, who asked the SWAG to aid the growth of the lesser known sports by giving them adequate publicity.

Apart from the money, SWAG have also received 19 trophies valued at millions of cedis from the Swiss Air Lines for presentation to the deserving winners on Saturday.

Last week, Snappy Sports Company, local representatives of ADIDAS donated a number of sports items valued at ?12 million to the association for presentation on Saturday.