Veteran Ghanaian actress Grace Naa Kwarley Nortey was laid to rest on Saturday, October 31, 2026, after a funeral service at the forecourt of the State House in Accra. Hundreds of colleagues, family members and fans turned out to bid farewell to the 89-year-old screen icon.
The service began at 8am. Among the mourners were actor and politician John Dumelo, actress Maame Dokono and representatives of the Ghana Actors Guild, GhanaWeb reported.
Grace Nortey died on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre. No cause of death was given in reports at the time.
The family had announced the funeral arrangements on Thursday, October 1, 2026, more than a month after her passing.
Grace Nortey funeral held at State House forecourt
Saturday’s ceremony at the State House forecourt was the main public farewell for the actress. Mourners were asked to dress in all white.
The interment that followed was private and attended only by close family. The family had also said there would be no wake.
Grace Nortey funeral arrangements at a glance
- Funeral service: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 8am – Forecourt of the State House, Accra
- Burial: Private, close family only
- Wake: None
- Thanksgiving service: Sunday, November 1, 2026, 8am – St Barnabas Anglican Church, Osu
- Dress code: All white for both events
Who was Grace Nortey? A career of more than five decades
Born on February 1, 1937, Grace Naa Kwarley Nortey (née Sawyer) built a career spanning more than 50 years across theatre, television, film and radio.
She was a familiar face in classic Ghanaian television and theatre productions, including Osofo Dadzie, which made her a household favourite, as well as Obra, Nana Akoto, Escape to Love and Ties That Bind.
On the big screen, she appeared in films such as Sinking Sands, Lost Hope and Matters of the Heart. She also featured in the international production Beasts of No Nation (2015).
In the 1970s, she hosted Nyeawokoshie, a radio programme aimed at Ga women. She received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival.
Tributes pour in for the veteran actress
Former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia described Grace Nortey as a trailblazer and a cultural icon.
Minority Leader Alexander Afenyo-Markin also paid tribute, recalling how her motherly roles on screen shaped his childhood. He urged Ghanaians to honour figures in the creative arts while they are still alive.
She was the wife of the late Mr Archibald Nortey. Her daughters include actress Sheila Nortey.
Her farewell comes weeks after the industry mourned another familiar face, Efiewura and Edziban star Kwame Dzokoto, who died at 51.
What Grace Nortey’s passing means for Ghana’s film industry
For many Ghanaians, Grace Nortey was a link to the golden era of local television drama, when shows like Osofo Dadzie drew whole families to the screen.
Her passing renews calls from industry players and public figures for better recognition of veteran actors and actresses during their lifetimes, not only at their funerals.
What happens next
The final funeral rites end with a thanksgiving service on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 8am at St Barnabas Anglican Church, Osu. Sympathisers are again expected to wear white.
Summary of the story
- Grace Naa Kwarley Nortey was laid to rest on Saturday, October 31, 2026.
- The funeral service was held at the forecourt of the State House, Accra, from 8am.
- John Dumelo, Maame Dokono and the Ghana Actors Guild were among the mourners.
- She died on August 26, 2026, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre, aged 89.
- Her best-known work includes Osofo Dadzie, Obra and Beasts of No Nation.
- Burial was private; there was no wake.
- A thanksgiving service follows on Sunday, November 1, at St Barnabas Anglican Church, Osu.
FAQs on Story: Grace Nortey Laid to Rest at 89: John Dumelo, Maame Dokono Join Hundreds at State House Funeral
When was Grace Nortey buried?
Grace Nortey was laid to rest on Saturday, October 31, 2026, after a funeral service at the State House forecourt in Accra. The burial itself was private.
How old was Grace Nortey when she died?
She was 89. She was born on February 1, 1937, and died on August 26, 2026.
What movies did Grace Nortey act in?
She appeared in Osofo Dadzie, Obra, Nana Akoto, Sinking Sands, Lost Hope, Matters of the Heart and the international film Beasts of No Nation.
Grace Nortey’s farewell at the State House drew colleagues, fans and family to honour an actress whose work spanned more than five decades of Ghanaian theatre, television, film and radio. Her final rites end with a thanksgiving service in Osu on Sunday.
