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Bortey began his career in 2000 with Ghapoha Readers in Tema. One year later, he moved to Accra Hearts of Oak SC and became an integral part of the "64 Battalion" and a deadly force alongside Charles Asampong Taylor, Ishmael Addo, Emmanuel Osei Kuffour. Hearts loaned him out in 2002 to Al Wasl FC in Dubai, where he played for 6 months. He returned in June 2002 to Hearts where he won the league and shared the Top Scorer award with Charles Asampong Taylor.