Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, the former traditional priestess turned self-styled evangelist widely known as Nana Agradaa, has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment with hard labour by an Accra Circuit Court for her role in defrauding the public through fraudulent religious activities.
The court found Agradaa guilty on multiple counts of charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretence. The charges arose from an incident in October 2022 when Agradaa, through her Today-TV channel and social media platforms, advertised that she could double money through spiritual means.
The prosecution revealed that she urged the public to attend an all-night service at her Heaven Way Champion International Ministry in Weija, where she promised to share GH¢300,000 to help people fund businesses or pay rent. Agradaa allegedly displayed large sums of money during televised adverts, convincing attendees to contribute amounts ranging from GH¢1,000 to lower sums, with promises of receiving larger amounts in return.
Hundreds of victims travelled from across the country to attend the event, only to be left stranded at the church premises after parting with their money. According to court records, Agradaa and her associates had no intention of fulfilling the promises made, with the judge describing her actions as a calculated scheme to exploit vulnerable members of society.
Before sentencing, Agradaa underwent a mandatory pregnancy test as required for female convicts in Ghana. The negative result paved the way for the court to deliver its sentence.
The prosecution expressed satisfaction with the verdict, noting it as a strong signal against the exploitation of faith for personal gain.
