Grace Nortey Funeral
The family of the late Grace Nortey has finally set a date to say goodbye. The veteran Ghanaian actress, loved by generations of viewers as the fearless “Maame Gyata,” will be laid to rest on Saturday, October 31, 2026, with a burial service at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra, more than two months after she passed away at the age of 89.
The arrangements, released by the family and reported by ZionFelix and other Ghanaian outlets, cover both the burial and a thanksgiving service the following day. Mourners have been asked to dress in all white for both events.
Grace Nortey Funeral: Full Programme
According to the announcement, the final rites will take place over one weekend in Accra. There will be no wake-keeping as part of the programme.
Burial Service – Saturday, October 31
The burial service starts at 8:00 am at the Forecourt of the State House in Accra. A private interment will follow, and it is reserved for the immediate family.
Thanksgiving Service – Sunday, November 1
The family will hold a thanksgiving service at 8:00 am on Sunday, November 1, at St. Barnabas Anglican Church in Osu. As with the burial, the dress code is all white.
Quick Facts
- Full name: Grace Naa Kwarley Nortey
- Popular name: Maame Gyata (meaning “Lion Woman”)
- Born: February 1, 1937
- Died: August 26, 2026, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), aged 89
- Burial service: Saturday, October 31, 2026, 8:00 am, State House Forecourt, Accra
- Thanksgiving service: Sunday, November 1, 2026, 8:00 am, St. Barnabas Anglican Church, Osu
- Dress code: All white
- Wake: None
Survived by Five Daughters
The late actress is survived by five children: Mrs. Vida Enchill, Ms. Andriana Nortey, Mrs. Barbara Tabi, Ms. Sheila Nortey and Ms. Rita Nortey.
Sheila Nortey followed in her mother’s footsteps and is also an actress, keeping the family name alive in Ghana’s film and TV space.
How Ghana Lost a Screen Legend
Grace Nortey died in the early hours of Wednesday, August 26, 2026, at the University of Ghana Medical Centre. The cause of death was not made public.
Two days later, on August 28, the family issued a statement thanking the public for its support. “We are grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers and kind messages,” the statement read, as the family asked media and well-wishers to respect its privacy while it mourned.
The family also reminded the public that, beyond the screen, she was “a sister, mother, grandmother, matriarch and the heart of the family.” At the time, they promised to share funeral details later, and this week’s announcement now brings that waiting period to an end.
A Career Spanning More Than Five Decades
Few Ghanaian actors have stayed relevant for as long as Grace Nortey did. Her career stretched across more than 50 years, moving from the stage to radio, television and film.
She became known for playing bold, outspoken and strong-willed women. That on-screen strength is what earned her the nickname “Maame Gyata,” which many fans still use when talking about her.
From Stage and Radio to TV Classics
Long before Ghallywood became a household name, she was part of popular productions such as Obra, Osofo Dadzie, Thursday Theatre, Key Soap Concert Party and Taxi Driver. These shows were a big part of family TV time for many Ghanaians.
In the 1970s, she also hosted Nyeawokoshie, a radio programme aimed at Ga women. Outside entertainment, she worked as a Senior Administrative Assistant with the Ghana Education Service.
Film Roles, Including a Netflix Hit
Her screen debut came in 1986 with Juju, where she starred opposite Joe Eyison. She went on to appear in films including Nana Akoto, The Other Side of the Rich, Escape to Love, Ties That Bind and Sinking Sands.
International audiences saw her in the 2015 Netflix film Beasts of No Nation, directed by Cary Joji Fukunaga and starring Idris Elba, where she played the Old Witch Woman. The same film made a star of young Ghanaian actor Abraham Attah.
Awards and Honours
Her work was recognised many times over the years. Some of her honours include:
- Best Cameo Actress – Ghana Movie Awards (2011)
- Excellence in Arts – Glitz Women of the Year Honours (2016)
- Lifetime Achievement Award – Black Star International Film Festival (2018)
- Legendary Award – Ghana Actors and Entertainment Awards (2020)
- Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Excellence in Performing Arts – 3Music Awards (2021)
Tributes and Calls for State Support
News of her death in August sparked an outpouring of tributes from fans, colleagues and public figures. Former Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia described her as a “true trailblazer and cultural icon.”
Entertainment pundit Arnold Asamoah Baidoo, speaking on United Showbiz, called for the government to support her funeral. He suggested that if a full state burial was not possible, a state-assisted funeral would be fitting. “It could be a venue or other things that will help the family halfway, sometimes it could be a money package,” he said. He also fondly recalled her lively on-screen banter with fellow veteran Grace Omaboe.
The choice of the State House Forecourt for the burial service now gives fans and colleagues a large, central venue to pay their last respects.
A Season of Farewells for Veteran Stars
Grace Nortey’s funeral announcement comes at a time when the West African film industry is honouring several of its elders. In Nigeria, Nollywood recently gathered for an emotional Olu Jacobs night of tributes in Lagos, while Ghanaian fans were also moved when Pete Edochie visited ailing veteran Emmanuel Armah in Ghana.
Final Word
Grace Nortey gave Ghana more than half a century of laughter, drama and unforgettable characters. On October 31, family, friends, colleagues and fans will gather at the State House in Accra, dressed in white, to say a final goodbye to the woman they called Maame Gyata. Her work on stage and screen will remain part of Ghana’s entertainment story for years to come.
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