The Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) has congratulated its long-serving Physiotherapist, Prof. Jonathan Quartey, on being named one of the World’s Top 75 Most Noteworthy Physiotherapists by World Physiotherapy. This global body represents over 600,000 physiotherapists worldwide. Prof. Quartey's achievement is significant, ranking him in the top 0.012% of physiotherapists globally. The GOC described him as a pillar of Ghana’s Olympic movement.
Prof. Quartey's journey to becoming a renowned physiotherapist began unexpectedly. Initially, he worked as a lab technician at Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. However, in the late 1990s, the Ministry of Health advertised for 700 applicants to train abroad as physiotherapists due to a shortage in Ghana. Prof. Quartey applied, was selected, and trained in the Netherlands, graduating with a BSc in Physiotherapy from Hogeschool van Amsterdam in 2003.
Apart from his clinical work, Prof. Quartey is an academic giant. He holds four postgraduate degrees: an MSc in Physiotherapy (Sports & Orthopaedics) from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria; an MSc in Health Professions Education from Maastricht University, Netherlands; and a PhD in Physiotherapy from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. In May 2024, he made history as the first Ghanaian to be promoted to Associate Professor of Physiotherapy at the University of Ghana.
Prof. Quartey has played a crucial role in building physiotherapy in Africa. He served as the President of the Ghana Physiotherapy Association and was the Vice-President and later President of World Physiotherapy Africa Region, leading 26 African countries. He is also a recipient of the World Physiotherapy International Service Award for Research in 2023.
Prof. Quartey is notably the most traveled Ghanaian physiotherapist, having served at numerous major Games. These include the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, All African Games, and various tournaments with Ghana's national teams, such as the Black Stars, Black Satellites, and Black Galaxies. His extensive experience has seen him work with teams like Feyenoord Academy in Gomoa Fetteh as a visiting physio for 11 years.
Despite his achievements, Prof. Quartey remains humble and committed to continuous learning. In August 2023, at the age of 50, he undertook a 2-week clinical attachment in Europe at Red Bull Salzburg Academy, Borussia Dortmund, and ADO Den Haag to update his skills. This exemplifies his dedication to bringing modern methods back to Ghana.
The recognition by World Physiotherapy highlights Prof. Quartey's contributions to advancing physiotherapy standards, regulation, and education in Ghana and across Africa. This honor not only reflects his achievements but also serves as an inspiration to young Ghanaians that local talent can be world-class.
Key points
- Prof. Jonathan Quartey named among world's top 75 physiotherapists
- He has served at numerous major international sports events
- He is the first Ghanaian Associate Professor of Physiotherapy at the University of Ghana
