Veteran Ghanaian actress Grace Nortey has reportedly died at the age of 89.
Nortey is said to have passed away at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026.
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Reports of her death were published on Wednesday, with Pulse Ghana attributing the information to Gossips24 TV. However, as of publication, there had not been an independent confirmation from her family, the Ghana Actors Guild or the University of Ghana Medical Centre.
Born on February 1, 1937, Grace Nortey was one of the most recognisable figures of Ghana’s theatre, television and film industry, with a career spanning more than five decades.
A career spanning generations
Nortey began her involvement in the performing arts in the 1970s and first established herself through theatre and drama before becoming a familiar face on Ghanaian television.
Biographical accounts indicate that she was particularly active during the 1980s and 1990s, a period widely regarded as a golden era of Ghanaian television drama. She appeared in or was associated with popular productions that included Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Key Soap Concert Party, Cantata, Taxi Driver and Thursday Theatre.
Before becoming widely known as an actress on television, Nortey also hosted a radio programme for Ga women, Nyeawokoshie, on Radio One in the 1970s. She subsequently appeared in stage productions before making a transition into film and television.
Her first major screen appearance is documented as the 1986 film Juju, a production associated with King Ampaw and Peter Wohlgemuth-Reinery. She later featured in a number of Ghanaian productions, establishing a reputation for portraying strong, outspoken and assertive female characters.
Among the films associated with her career are Nana Akoto, The Other Side of the Rich, Matters of the Heart, Lost Hope, Dza Gbele, Expectations, Jewels, Ties That Bind, Sinking Sands, P over D and Beasts of No Nation.
International recognition
Nortey also featured in internationally recognised productions.
In Sinking Sands, the 2011 Ghanaian drama directed by Leila Djansi, she played the role of Grandma. The film starred Jimmy Jean-Louis, Ama K. Abebrese and Yemi Blaq.
She also appeared in Cary Joji Fukunaga’s 2015 war drama Beasts of No Nation, which was filmed in Ghana and starred Idris Elba and Ghanaian actor Abraham Attah. Nortey played the role of an old woman in the film.
Her other international film credit includes Ties That Bind, where she played a church member. The film featured actors including Kimberly Elise, Ama K. Abebrese, Omotola Jalade-Ekeinde and John Dumelo.
Known for strong female characters
Throughout her career, Nortey became particularly associated with roles that depicted strong-willed, outspoken and assertive women.
Her characters often confronted issues involving patriarchy, gender discrimination, social injustice, corruption and oppressive traditions. This distinctive screen presence helped make her one of the memorable female performers of Ghana’s early television and theatre era.
Her performances also brought her recognition from the Ghanaian creative industry. She received honours including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival and other industry recognitions.
A family legacy
Nortey also passed on her interest in acting to the next generation. She is survived by five children, including actress Sheila Nortey, who also pursued a career in the Ghanaian film industry.
Her reported death marks the possible passing of one of the important figures of Ghana’s early television and theatre generation.
If confirmed by her family or the relevant industry authorities, her death will bring to a close a career that helped connect Ghana’s traditional theatre era with the country’s modern film and television industry.
