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Ghana remembers Dr Benjamin William Quartey-Papafio, the nation's first medical doctor
via GhanaWeb2 min read
June 25, 2026, marked what would have been the 167th birthday of Dr Benjamin William Quartey-Papafio, the first Ghanaian to earn a medical degree and practice Western medicine in the then Gold Coast. Born on June 25, 1859, in Accra, he began his education at CMS Grammar School in Accra and Fourah Bay College in Sierra Leone. He later studied at Durham University and the University of Edinburgh, graduating with a medical degree in 1886 and a Doctor of Medicine degree a decade later after researching Blackwater Fever. Upon returning to the Gold Coast in 1888, Dr Quartey-Papafio joined the Gold Coast Government Medical Service but faced racial discrimination, which led to repeated denials of promotion. He resigned to establish a private medical practice on High Street in Accra. Beyond medicine, he served on the Accra Town Council and became a member of the Legislative Council. In 1911, he was among Ghanaian leaders who traveled to London to oppose the Forest Bill. Dr Quartey-Papafio passed away on September 14, 1924, at 65, leaving a legacy that influenced generations of Ghanaian professionals in various fields.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by GhanaWeb.
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