An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a 35-year-old self-styled spiritualist, Nana Adwoa Yamoah, to three years’ imprisonment for defrauding a man of GH¢95,000.
Yamoah, who operated at Teshie in Accra, pleaded guilty to charges of defrauding by false pretences and practising without registration and a licence.
Prosecuting, Assistant Superintendent of Police Augustine Kingsley Oppong told the court, presided over by Mr Dennis Eyram Fumey, that the complainant, Douglas Abu, is unemployed and resides at Ntotroso in the Ashanti Region.
He said that in 2025, a witness, Grace Fosua, introduced Abu to Yamoah as a spiritualist.
The prosecution stated that Yamoah claimed she had links with the Asantehene and could facilitate Abu’s enstoolment as chief of Ntotroso.
Relying on that representation, Abu paid various sums of money to her, with the assurance that he would be installed as chief by January.
The court heard that Yamoah also collected GH¢51,000 from Abu under the pretext of doubling the amount but failed to do so.
She further persuaded Abu to travel with her to Benin for what she described as spiritual fortification at his expense; however, no such exercise was carried out.
ASP Oppong said Abu later became suspicious and demanded a refund, but Yamoah failed to return the money.
The complainant subsequently reported the matter to the police, leading to Yamoah’s arrest on March 9, 2026.
During investigations, Yamoah requested time to refund the money but failed to honour her promise.
Investigations further established that she was not registered with the Traditional Medicine Practice Council and had used similar methods to defraud others.
The court convicted her on her own plea.
Sentencing was initially deferred pending a pregnancy test, which proved negative, after which she was handed a three-year custodial sentence.
