By Simon Asare, GNA
Accra, Nov. 10, GNA – Mr Khaled Mehalhel, the President of the Weightlifting Federation of Africa (WFA), has expressed deep sorrow over the death of Ghana’s pioneering Olympic weightlifter Alberta Boatemaa Ampomah.
Ampomah, who died at the age of 32, cemented a special place in Ghana’s sporting history as the country’s first female weightlifter to compete at the Olympic Games.
In a condolence letter addressed to Mr Jerry Ahmed Shaib, President of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation (GWF), the WFA President conveyed the sympathy of the continental body to Ghana’s weightlifting fraternity and the family of the late athlete.
“It was with profound sorrow that I learnt of the death of Alberta Boateng Ampomah, a member of the Ghana national weightlifting team.
“On behalf of the WFA Executive Board members and on my personal behalf, I would like to express our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to you, the entire members of the Ghanaian executive board, and the family of the late Ms. Alberta Boateng Ampomah on her passing,” he said.
The WFA President prayed for strength and comfort for the bereaved family and the Ghanaian weightlifting community as they mourn the loss of one of the country’s most celebrated athletes.
“May her soul rest in perfect peace in paradise, and we pray for God Almighty to give her family and the Ghanaian weightlifting family the fortitude during this extremely difficult time to bear this irreparable loss,” he added.
Ampomah represented Ghana at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, competing in the women’s super-heavyweight (+75kg) category, where she lifted a total of 174kg to finish 13th among 14 competitors.
Her qualification for the Games followed an impressive performance at the African Olympic qualifiers, where she placed third in the clean and jerk division before earning a wildcard slot.
Ampomah also represented Ghana at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi, India, and won a bronze medal at the inaugural Youth Olympic Games in Singapore the same year.
Beyond her exploits on the platform, she remained actively involved in sports development and athlete welfare and also served as an armwrestling official, contributing to the growth of the sport in Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Reporter: Simon Asare
Email: [email protected]