Ghanaian veteran actress Grace Nortey, one of the country’s most recognisable figures in theatre, television and film, has died at the age of 89.
Nortey reportedly passed away in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC). Her death brings to an end a remarkable career spanning more than five decades. The cause of death has not yet been publicly disclosed.
Born on February 1, 1937, Nortey became a household name during the formative years of Ghanaian television drama. She was particularly celebrated for portraying strong-willed, outspoken and authoritative women, earning her the popular nickname “Maame Gyata”—a reflection of the fierce characters she frequently brought to life on screen.
Her contribution to Ghana’s creative industry extended beyond film. In the 1970s, she hosted Nyeawokoshie, a radio programme targeted at Ga women, before establishing herself as a prominent stage and television performer.
She became associated with some of Ghana’s most influential productions, including Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Key Soap Concert Party, Cantata, Taxi Driver, Thursday Theatre, Nana Akoto and Escape to Love. Her film credits also included The Other Side of the Rich, Sinking Sands, The Ties That Bind, Matters of the Heart, Expectations and Jewels.
Nortey’s career eventually took her onto the international stage. In 2015, she featured in Beasts of No Nation, the acclaimed Netflix film directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Idris Elba and Ghanaian actor Abraham Attah. Nortey played the role of the Old Witch Woman in the film, which was shot in Ghana.
Her longevity in the industry earned her several honours. Among them were the Best Cameo Actress award at the Ghana Movie Awards in 2011 for Adams Apple, the Excellence in Arts honour at the Glitz Women of the Year Honours in 2016, and a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival in 2018. She was also honoured with a Legendary Award for Outstanding Contributions at the Ghana Actors Entertainment Awards in 2020.
Nortey’s later years saw her take fewer demanding acting roles, with reports indicating that mobility and eyesight challenges made reading lengthy scripts increasingly difficult. She nevertheless remained open to smaller roles that allowed her to work from scenarios and improvise.
Beyond her professional achievements, Nortey was an advocate for the welfare of veteran actors and remained an important link between Ghana’s early theatre and television era and the country’s contemporary film industry.
She was married to the late Daniel Nortey, and they had five children, including actress Sheila Nortey, who followed her mother’s footsteps into acting.
Grace Nortey’s death represents the loss of one of the defining performers of Ghana’s golden era of television and theatre. For generations of audiences, her commanding presence and memorable portrayals helped shape the character-driven drama that became a hallmark of Ghanaian entertainment.
She was 89.
By: NR NEWSDESK
