Veteran actress Grace Nortey dies at 89

Veteran Ghanaian actress Grace Nortey has died at the age of 89, according to a reliable source.

Nortey died at the University of Ghana Medical Centre in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, just a few months before her 90th birthday.

The actress, who celebrated her 89th birthday on February 1, had spent more than five decades in Ghana’s entertainment industry and became one of the country’s most recognisable screen figures.

Known for her commanding presence, Nortey often played outspoken, strong willed matriarchs who were unafraid to challenge family traditions, patriarchy and social injustice.

Her career extended beyond Ghanaian television and local drama. She appeared in the internationally acclaimed Ghanaian film Sinking Sands in 2011 and featured in the 2015 Netflix war drama Beasts of No Nation.

For generations of Ghanaian viewers, Nortey was a familiar face whose performances brought authority, toughness and, at times, humour to the characters she portrayed.

She is survived by five children. Her daughter, Sheila Nortey, also became an actress, continuing the family’s connection with the Ghanaian entertainment industry.

Nortey’s grandson is married to celebrated Ghanaian broadcaster Berla Mundi.

Her death marks the loss of one of the veteran performers who helped shape Ghana’s screen and theatre traditions over several decades.