Veteran Ghanaian actress Grace Nortey, one of the pioneers of Ghana’s theatre, television and film industry, has died at the age of 89.
Nortey died on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, after a career spanning more than five decades in Ghana’s creative industry.
Born on February 1, 1937, Nortey became one of Ghana’s most recognisable actresses, particularly for her portrayal of strong-willed and fearless female characters.
Her performances earned her the popular nickname “Maame Gyata”, meaning Lion Woman or Lion Lady.
Nortey was particularly active from the 1980s through the turn of the millennium, appearing in productions including Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Key Soap Concert Party, Cantata, Taxi Driver and Thursday Theatre.
Her major screen debut came in the 1986 comic film Juju, produced by King Ampaw and Peter Wohlgemuth-Reinery, where she played the wife of veteran actor Joe Eyison.
She subsequently featured in several notable Ghanaian and international productions, including Nana Akoto, The Other Side of the Rich, Escape to Love, Matters of the Heart, Expectations, Jewels, The Ties That Bind, Sinking Sands and Beasts of No Nation.
Nortey became particularly known for playing dominant, firm and outspoken characters, often engaging male characters in lengthy and passionate confrontations that sometimes carried elements of humour.
Beyond acting, Nortey worked as a Senior Administrative Assistant with the Ghana Education Service.
She also became an advocate for the welfare of veteran actors, speaking publicly about the challenges faced by ageing and unemployed performers, including loneliness, poverty and the absence of adequate retirement support.
Nortey was married to Daniel Nortey, who died years before her. The couple had five children, including actress Sheila Nortey.
Recognition
Nortey’s contribution to Ghana’s creative industry earned her several honours during her career.
She won Best Cameo Actress at the Ghana Movie Awards in 2011 for Adams Apple and received the Excellence in Arts award at the Glitz Women of the Year Honours in 2016.
In 2018, she received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival.
She was later honoured with a Legendary Award for Outstanding Contributions at the Ghana Actors Entertainment Award in 2020 and received an Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Excellence in the Performing Arts honour at the 3Music Awards Women’s Brunch in 2021.
She was also honoured during the Ashanti Festival in April 2025 for her contribution to Ghanaian entertainment.
In her later years, Nortey reduced the number of demanding acting roles she accepted because of mobility and eyesight challenges.
She previously explained that reading lengthy scripts had become difficult, although she could still take on smaller roles that allowed her to work from a scenario and improvise.
Details about the cause of her death have not been publicly disclosed.
Nortey leaves behind a legacy spanning radio, theatre, television and film, having helped shape Ghana’s performing arts industry across several generations.