The Circuit Court in Accra has sentenced Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, to 15 years in prison with hard labour for engaging in charlatanic advertisement and defrauding members of the public by false pretence.
The conviction marks the conclusion of a high-profile trial that has gripped national attention since 2022, when the self-styled spiritualist and televangelist aired a series of televised promotions claiming to possess mystical powers capable of “doubling money.”
According to court documents, Nana Agradaa used her now-defunct television platform to lure unsuspecting victims with promises of miraculous financial returns. She invited the public to bring sums of money to her church, where she claimed spiritual rituals would result in the money being multiplied. Many of her victims, some of whom sold personal belongings to participate in the scheme, never received any returns.
The prosecution presented a strong case, detailing how Agradaa’s actions constituted a deliberate and sustained effort to defraud vulnerable individuals under the guise of religious and spiritual services. Several victims testified in court, recounting how they were convinced by her broadcast and later left devastated after being duped.
The court found her guilty on multiple counts of charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretence, offences that fall under Ghana’s criminal code relating to fraudulent spiritual practices and deception.
In delivering the judgment, the presiding judge emphasized the need to protect the public from such deceptive schemes and described Agradaa’s conduct as calculated, exploitative, and deeply harmful.
“This sentence should serve as a strong deterrent to others who seek to manipulate the faith and desperation of ordinary people for personal gain,” the judge said.
Nana Agradaa, once a controversial media figure and later a self-proclaimed evangelist, had previously come under public scrutiny for similar allegations, although this is the first time she has faced a criminal conviction leading to imprisonment.
The sentence has sparked mixed reactions from the public. While many have praised the court for delivering justice, others have called for more awareness and regulation around religious broadcasts and spiritual claims in the country.
Ghana’s law enforcement agencies have also reiterated their commitment to clamping down on fraudulent spiritual practices and urged the public to report suspicious activities.
Nana Agradaa will begin her sentence immediately.
