She was born in Kumasi[1] In 1973, she represented Ghana at the 1973 All-Africa Games held in Nigeria and won a silver and gold in the 100 meters and 4 × 100 m relay sprints respectively.

[2][3] Amankwah also won a gold medal in a 200 meters race in an Africa versus America athletics competition in 1973 and a bronze medal in the 4x100 meters relay at the Commonwealth Games in New Zealand in 1974.

She represented Ghana in the same race at the 1972 Munich Olympic Games.

[4] In 1974 Amankwah migrated to the United Kingdom, where she trained as a nurse, ultimately becoming a theatre matron at Central Middlesex Hospital.

After 49 years of service at the hospital, she retired in 2024, aged 72.