All eyes will be on Lausanne, Switzerland, beginning tomorrow as Natalie Weber lines up to represent Ghana at the World Rowing Cup II — a defining moment in her mission to lift Ghana’s flag high on the global stage.
The 23-year-old lightweight sculler, born in Germany to a Ghanaian mother and German father, is fresh off a strong debut at the World Rowing Cup in Varese, Italy, where she finished eighth overall and third in the B Final of the Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls. Now, she is hungry for more — not just results, but recognition and respect.
“I would like to show that I’m here because of my performance and not because I couldn’t make it racing for Germany,” Weber, whose switch of allegiance to Ghana was formalised on June 2, just weeks before her international debut, said.
Ghana rising in rowing
It is already proving to be a masterstroke. Her performance in Italy saw Ghana skyrocket from 123rd to 14th in the world rowing rankings, an extraordinary leap for a country still building its footprint in the sport.
Weber, who previously represented Germany at the 2021 and 2023 World Rowing Under-23 Championships and is the reigning German national champion in lightweight single sculls, had long harboured Olympic ambitions.
However, the high costs of international competition for Germany’s senior team proved a major obstacle.
“We tried everything to find a sponsor who could help me race for Germany, but there wasn’t anyone,” she revealed. “So we approached the Ghana Rowing Federation to ask if I could race for them, and they were very excited and said, ‘Of course’.”
Ghana Rowing and Canoeing Federation President, Alhaji Kamal Sulley, wasted no time in facilitating the process — a decision that is already paying dividends, both in performance and profile.
National pride
But for Weber, racing under Ghana’s flag means more than just a competitive opportunity. It is a journey of identity and pride.
“It’s a great opportunity to show the other side of my culture. I can show my heritage to the world and prove that I’m not only German, but also Ghanaian,” she said.
Though the rower has yet to spend much time in Ghana, Weber’s roots run deep. “I have a big family in Ghana. I didn’t get the chance to visit much, but I grew up with the culture because my mother was born there. I have four uncles and aunts who regularly travel to Germany, so I’ve always had the best of both worlds.”