Ghana’s first female Olympic weightlifter Alberta Boatema Amponsah dies aged 32

Ghana’s first female Olympic weightlifter, Alberta Boatema Amponsah, has died at the age of 32.

Her death was announced in a joint statement by the Ghana Olympians Association, Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) and the GOC Athletes’ Commission on Sunday, November 8, just five days after her 32nd birthday.

The statement described Amponsah, who competed at the 2012 London Olympic Games, as a dedicated servant of her fellow Olympians and athletes.

“With deep sorrow, the Ghana Olympians Association, Ghana Olympic Committee and GOC Athletes Commission mourn Alberta Ampomah, OLY (1994-2026), Ghana’s first Olympic weightlifter and a devoted servant of her fellow Olympians and athletes. May her soul rest in peace,” it said.

No cause of death has been disclosed by her family or the Olympic bodies.

Born in Accra on November 3, 1994, Amponsah made history at the age of 17 when she represented Ghana at the 2012 Olympic Games in London.

She competed in the women’s over-75kg weightlifting category, recording 73kg in the snatch and 101kg in the clean and jerk for a combined total of 174kg. Her performance placed her 13th among 14 competitors.

Amponsah secured her place at the Games through a wildcard entry after winning bronze in the clean and jerk at the 2012 African Olympic qualifiers.

Her international career had started even earlier, with the weightlifter representing Ghana at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, at just 15 years old. She competed in the women’s 75kg category.

After her weightlifting career, Amponsah remained active in sports, taking part in and officiating at armwrestling competitions in Ghana.

She also served as an executive member of the reconstituted GOC Athletes’ Commission, working alongside fellow Olympians, including chairman John Ampomah, Abeku Jackson, Gemma Acheampong, Emmanuel Dasor, Abdul Wahid Omar and Kaya Forson.