Ghana has lost one of its most celebrated acting veterans, Grace Nortey, whose remarkable career spanning more than five decades helped shape the country’s theatre, television and film industry.
Nortey reportedly passed away at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC) in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the age of 89.
Born on February 1, 1937, the veteran actress celebrated her 89th birthday earlier this year. For generations of Ghanaians, her face and commanding performances became synonymous with an era when local theatre and television drama dominated the entertainment landscape.
Her journey in the creative arts began in theatre before she transitioned into television, radio and film. In the 1970s, she hosted Nyeawokoshie, a radio programme for Ga women on Ghana Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio One.
She later made her major film debut in the 1986 production Juju, opening the door to a film career that would see her feature in several notable Ghanaian productions.
Among the films she appeared in were Nana Akoto, The Other Side of the Rich, Escape to Love, Matters of the Heart, Ties That Bind, Sinking Sands and Beasts of No Nation.
But beyond the titles and awards, Nortey’s greatest legacy was the unforgettable characters she brought to life. She was particularly admired for portraying strong, authoritative women, delivering performances that combined emotional depth with a commanding screen presence.
Her career flourished during what many consider the golden age of Ghanaian television, when productions such as Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Taxi Driver and Thursday Theatre attracted huge audiences and became part of everyday Ghanaian culture.
Her contribution to the creative arts was recognised with several honours, including a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival in 2018. She was also honoured at the Ghana Movie Awards, the Glitz Women of the Year Honours and the 3Music Awards Women’s Brunch.
In 2025, she was among veteran Ghanaian actors honoured at the Ashanti Festival for her contribution to the country’s film industry.
Though her appearances became fewer in her later years, Grace Nortey remained a revered figure whose work connected generations of Ghanaians to an important chapter in the nation’s entertainment history.
Her passing is more than the loss of an actress. It is the closing of another chapter in the story of Ghanaian theatre, television and film.
At 89, Grace Nortey leaves behind a body of work that will continue to remind Ghanaians of an era when local drama was not merely entertainment—it was part of the nation’s cultural identity.
The curtain may have fallen, but the legacy remains.
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