The High Court has significantly reduced the prison sentence of self-styled evangelist and former fetish priestess Nana Agradaa, cutting her 15-year jail term to just one year.
Nana Agradaa, whose real name is Patricia Asiedua, was previously convicted of financial misconduct and defrauding her followers.
The sentence reduction follows a successful appeal by her legal team, who cited mitigating factors and raised procedural concerns regarding the initial trial.
The court’s decision has triggered mixed reactions among the public. While some Ghanaians have welcomed the reduced sentence, others argue that the ruling sends the wrong signal about accountability, particularly for high-profile figures.
Agradaa is expected to serve the one-year term while complying with any additional court directives, which could include fines or restitution to affected parties.
In July 2025, Agradaa was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment with hard labour for defrauding members of the public under the pretense of doubling their money through spiritual means.
Her conviction followed months of legal proceedings after numerous victims came forward, accusing her of persuading them to bring large sums of money for supposed spiritual multiplication. The scheme was promoted under the guise of religious rituals at her church, Heaven Way Champion International Ministry in Weija.
According to the prosecution, Agradaa used her strong media presence and religious platform to lure victims with promises of supernatural financial returns. Several complainants testified that they handed over amounts ranging from GH¢1,000 to GH¢10,000, only to receive nothing in return after the alleged rituals.
The court found her guilty on multiple counts of defrauding by false pretence, describing her actions as calculated, exploitative, and harmful to public trust in religious institutions.
The charges stemmed from a televised advertisement aired in 2022, in which she claimed to possess the power to double money for members of the public—a claim that led several individuals to part with substantial sums.
The court ruled that her actions—soliciting large sums under false promises—constituted deliberate fraud. The money-doubling scheme caused many congregants and ministry members to hand over significant funds in the belief that their money would multiply.
