A Ghanaian court has reduced the prison sentence of evangelist Nana Agradaa from 15 years to 12 months, ruling that the original punishment was harsh and excessive.
The Amasaman High Court on Wednesday affirmed her conviction but varied the sentence, cutting it from the 15 years of hard labor imposed by the trial court. The revised term takes effect from July 3, 2025, the date of her conviction.
Agradaa, whose real name is Patricia Asiedu, was found guilty of charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretence. Prosecutors said she lured victims through a 2022 televised broadcast in which she falsely claimed to have spiritual powers capable of doubling money. Several individuals handed over large sums expecting miraculous financial returns that never materialized.
The court said the offences warranted punishment but found the severity of the initial sentence disproportionate under the circumstances, justifying a downward adjustment.
Agradaa, a former fetish priestess turned preacher, has long been a polarizing figure in Ghana, drawing followers with her flamboyant style and controversial claims
