Agradaa’s 15-year jail term slashed to 1 year by Amasaman High Court

The Amasaman High Court has reduced the prison sentence of former traditional priestess turned evangelist, Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, from 15 years to 12 months.

The decision was delivered on Thursday, February 5, 2026, after the court partly upheld an appeal filed by Agradaa challenging both her conviction and sentence by the Accra Circuit Court. In its ruling, the High Court found merit in her argument that the original sentence was excessive and that aspects of the trial did not fully meet the requirements of fairness.

Agradaa was originally sentenced in 2022 to 15 years’ imprisonment on two counts of defrauding by false pretence. The trial court ordered that the sentences run concurrently. She was also fined GH¢300 for charlatanic advertisement.

The case arose from a televised church service broadcast in 2022, during which Agradaa announced that she would distribute GH¢300,000 to members of the public as financial support. Prosecutors told the court that instead of giving out money as promised, she collected various sums from congregants and viewers but failed to fulfil her pledge.

Her conduct, the prosecution argued, amounted to deliberate deception and exploitation of vulnerable persons, leading to her conviction. The trial court at the time described the offence as serious and deserving of a custodial sentence, citing the scale of the deception and the public platform used.

However, in reviewing the appeal, the Amasaman High Court held that while the conviction could stand, the punishment imposed was disproportionate in the circumstances. The court accordingly reduced the custodial sentence to 12 months, effectively allowing Agradaa to serve a significantly shorter term.

The ruling brings a major development in a case that has attracted sustained public attention due to Agradaa’s high-profile transition from traditional spiritual practices to Christian evangelism, as well as the widespread media coverage of the alleged offences.

Agradaa remains one of the most controversial religious and socialite figures in recent times, with her activities often sparking debate around faith-based practices, regulation of religious broadcasts, and the protection of the public from fraudulent spiritual claims.