Veteran Ghanaian actress Grace Nortey called home at 89

According to reports, Nortey died in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), according to reports. She was born on February 1, 1937.

Her death brings to an end a career that spanned more than five decades and established her as one of the familiar faces of Ghanaian theatre, television and film.

Grace Nortey became particularly recognised for her strong and commanding performances, often portraying outspoken and determined women. Her work during the golden era of Ghanaian television helped make her a household name among audiences.

She was associated with productions including Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Nana Akoto, Escape to Love, Ties That Bind and Sinking Sands.

She also appeared in the internationally acclaimed 2015 film Beasts of No Nation, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Idris Elba and Abraham Attah. Nortey played the role of the Old Witch Woman in the film, which was shot in Ghana and went on to receive widespread international recognition.

A career beyond acting

Nortey’s contribution to Ghana’s creative industry extended beyond film and television.

She began building her reputation during a period when theatre and television drama were among the country’s most influential forms of entertainment. She was also involved in radio, including hosting Nyeawokoshie, a radio programme aimed at Ga women during the 1970s.

Her television career included appearances in some of Ghana’s best-known drama productions. Osofo Dadzie, which became one of the country’s most popular television drama programmes, ran from the 1970s into the 1980s and became known for turning Ghanaian folklore, social issues and everyday experiences into drama.

Nortey’s film credits also included Sinking Sands, where she played the role of Grandma, and Ties That Bind.

Her later work showed that her career continued well beyond the era in which she first became famous. Her filmography includes productions such as Lost Hope, Dza Gbele, Matters of the Heart, Sekina, Expectations and Jewels.

A familiar face across generations

What distinguished Nortey was the longevity of her career. She worked across different generations of Ghanaian performers and remained recognisable to audiences as Ghana’s film and television industry evolved.

Her performances frequently placed her in roles that required authority and emotional strength, contributing to the distinctive character-driven style of Ghanaian television drama of her generation.

She was also recognised for her contribution to Ghana’s creative industry, with honours including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival, according to biographical accounts of her career.

Nortey was a mother of five daughters. Her children include actress Sheila Nortey. In a 2024 interview, Nortey spoke about life away from the spotlight and the loss of her husband, Daniel Nortey, whom she described as an important part of her life.

Her death has prompted tributes from colleagues and admirers of Ghanaian theatre, television and film, many of whom have remembered her contribution to the development of the country’s creative industry.

Grace Nortey’s passing marks the loss of a veteran performer whose career connected Ghana’s early television drama era with the modern film industry.

For more than five decades, she remained part of Ghana’s entertainment story, from radio and theatre to television and internationally recognised film.