Ghana Mourns Veteran Actress Grace Nortey, Dead at 89
Veteran Ghanaian actress Grace Nortey has died at the age of 89, bringing to a close a career of more than five decades across theatre, radio, television and film.
According to reports, the celebrated actress died in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC).
Nortey, who was born on February 1, 1937, became one of the most recognisable personalities in Ghanaian entertainment, particularly during the formative years of the country’s television drama industry.
She was widely known for performances that portrayed strong, outspoken and determined women, earning recognition among generations of viewers who followed Ghanaian theatre and television.
Decades of Work in Ghanaian Entertainment
Grace Nortey was associated with several well-known Ghanaian productions, including Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Nana Akoto, Escape to Love, Ties That Bind and Sinking Sands.
Her work in television coincided with an influential period in Ghanaian drama, when productions such as Osofo Dadzie brought stories inspired by folklore, social issues and everyday experiences to audiences.
The programme, which ran from the 1970s into the 1980s, became one of Ghana's popular television drama productions.
Nortey's contribution to broadcasting was not limited to acting. During the 1970s, she was also involved in radio and hosted Nyeawokoshie, a programme aimed at Ga women.
Her career later expanded into film, allowing her to remain active as Ghana's entertainment industry changed over the decades.
She appeared as Grandma in Sinking Sands and also featured in Ties That Bind. Other productions connected to her career include Lost Hope, Dza Gbele, Matters of the Heart, Sekina, Expectations and Jewels.
Appearance in Beasts of No Nation
Nortey also appeared in the 2015 film Beasts of No Nation, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Idris Elba and Abraham Attah.
In the film, which was shot in Ghana and gained international recognition, Nortey portrayed the Old Witch Woman.
Her involvement in the production represented another chapter in a career that had begun long before Ghana's modern film industry took shape.
A Career Across Generations
One of the defining features of Nortey's career was its longevity. She worked through different periods of Ghanaian entertainment and remained familiar to audiences as theatre, television and filmmaking evolved.
Her commanding screen presence frequently placed her in characters requiring authority and emotional strength, helping establish the distinctive roles for which she became known.
Biographical accounts of her career also credit her with receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival in recognition of her contribution to Ghana's creative industry.
Beyond her professional life, Nortey was a mother of five daughters, including actress Sheila Nortey.
In a 2024 interview, she reflected on her life away from the entertainment spotlight and spoke about the loss of her husband, Daniel Nortey, whom she described as an important part of her life.
Remembering Grace Nortey
Reports of Nortey's death have prompted tributes from colleagues and admirers of Ghanaian theatre, television and film, reflecting the long period she spent contributing to the country's entertainment industry.
From her involvement in radio and the early years of Ghanaian television drama to appearances in contemporary films and an internationally recognised production, Nortey's career connected different generations of Ghanaian entertainment.
Her death marks the passing of a veteran performer whose work remained part of Ghana's creative story for more than five decades.
Grace Nortey was 89.