By Kwame Bediako
Ghana successfully hosted the African Junior and Youth Weightlifting Championship for the first time, using the newly refurbished Ga Mashie Hall at the Trust Sports Emporium in Accra as the venue for the continental event.
The five-day championship, held from August 18 to 22, brought together over 200 athletes and officials from 13 African countries, highlighting Ghana’s growing prominence in the sport both on and off the platform.
The competition saw Ghana’s weightlifting team emerge as one of the leading nations, winning a total of 13 medals: six gold, one silver, and six bronze. This haul marks a significant step forward for the country’s youth and junior weightlifters and confirms Ghana’s rising status in African weightlifting.
Officials of the Ghana Weightlifting Federation hailed the results as a solid foundation for future international success.
Standout performances came from Emmanuel Amo Boateng, who dominated the boys’ 71kg category, sweeping gold in the snatch, clean and jerk, and total lift events.
Alongside him, Salim Abdul showcased Ghana’s prowess in the heavyweight divisions with three gold medals in the boys’ 110kg category, underscoring the depth of talent in the national squad.
Other team members also contributed notably to the medal tally. Emmanuel Nii Allotey secured two bronze medals, while several others added to the tally, rounding out a well-balanced team effort.
The continental event provided a vital platform for Ghanaian lifters to gain valuable international experience on home soil. The successful staging of the championship at the Trust Sports Emporium not only spotlighted Ghana’s logistical capacity to host major continental sporting events but also energized local support for weightlifting.
