She died in the early hours of Wednesday, 26 August 2026. She was born on 1 February 1937.
Her death brings to an end a career spanning more than five decades, during which she became one of the familiar faces of Ghanaian theatre, television, and film, recognized for strong, commanding performances that often portrayed outspoken and determined women.
Nortey was associated with productions including Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Nana Akoto, Escape to Love, Ties That Bind and Sinking Sands, in which she played Grandma. She also appeared in the internationally acclaimed 2015 film Beasts of No Nation, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Idris Elba and Abraham Attah, playing the role of the Old Witch Woman in the Ghana-shot production.
Beyond film and television, Nortey built her early reputation in theatre and radio, including hosting Nyeawokoshie, a programme aimed at Ga women, in the 1970s. Osofo Dadzie, one of her best-known television credits, ran from the 1970s into the 1980s and became known for dramatizing Ghanaian folklore and social issues.
Her later filmography included Lost Hope, Dza Gbele, Matters of the Heart, Sekina, Expectations and Jewels, reflecting a career that spanned multiple generations of Ghanaian performers.
She received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Black Star International Film Festival, according to biographical accounts of her career.
Nortey was a mother of five daughters, including actress Sheila Nortey. In a 2024 interview, she spoke about her life away from the spotlight and the loss of her husband, Daniel Nortey.
Her death has prompted tributes from colleagues and admirers of Ghanaian theatre, television and film.
Source: TV3
