Nana Agradaa Sentenced to 15 Years in Prison for Fraud and Charlatanic Advertisement

The Accra Circuit Court has sentenced popular evangelist and former fetish priestess, Patricia Asiedua, also known as Nana Agradaa, to 15 years in prison with hard labour. The court found her guilty of charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretence.

Presided over by Her Honour Evelyn Asamoah, the court established that Agradaa, through her church, Heaven Way Champion Ministries International, had lured unsuspecting followers with televised and online promises of “money-doubling” miracles. Prosecutors revealed that Agradaa instructed viewers to bring large sums of money to her Weija-based church, promising spiritual multiplication of their cash. Instead, victims were left empty-handed.

Testimonies from six core complainants and additional police investigations indicated that over a thousand individuals may have been duped during a major all-night service in 2022. The victims recounted how Agradaa’s assurances of financial breakthrough turned out to be a calculated fraud scheme.

The court had initially postponed sentencing pending the result of a pregnancy test, as required by legal procedure. Once confirmed that Agradaa was not pregnant, the sentencing proceeded without delay.

Delivering the ruling, the judge emphasized that such deceptive acts, especially when perpetrated under the guise of religion, undermine public trust and prey on vulnerable citizens. The 15-year custodial sentence, coupled with hard labour, was described by many as a bold and necessary move to curb the growing trend of spiritual scams.

The ruling has been widely applauded by civil society groups and legal experts as a strong warning to others who exploit faith for personal gain. However, sources suggest that Agradaa’s legal team may pursue an appeal in the coming weeks. She also faces other pending charges in separate courts related to similar fraudulent operations and alleged assault.

This sentence marks a significant moment in Ghana’s fight against religious exploitation and affirms the judiciary’s commitment to protecting citizens from deceitful spiritual practices.