Nana Agradaa handed 15 years in prison for fraud and charlatanic practices

Evangelist Patricia Asiedua, widely known as Nana Agradaa, has been sentenced to 15 years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court after being found guilty of defrauding members of her congregation by false pretense and engaging in charlatanic advertisement.

The ruling was delivered by Her Honour Evelyn Asamoah, who described Agradaa’s actions as calculated and unremorseful. The Judge stated that the Founder of Heaven Way Church skillfully executed the offenses and failed to show any remorse throughout the trial.

Nana Agradaa was arrested on October 9, 2022, following multiple complaints from church members who alleged they were swindled during an overnight service at her church. According to testimonies, the evangelist promised financial miracles in exchange for large sums of money, which were never fulfilled.

Prior to sentencing, the court ordered a pregnancy test to be conducted on her, a routine procedure in such cases. Despite this, the court proceeded to hand down the custodial sentence.

The prosecution, led by state attorneys, opposed any leniency, reminding the court that Agradaa had previously been convicted in 2021 on similar charges and fined GHC 10,000. According to the prosecutors, the previous punishment had proven ineffective as a deterrent.

In her defense, Agradaa’s legal team pleaded for a noncustodial sentence. They cited her responsibilities as a mother, highlighting her 24-year-old daughter who is a law student, and a 3-year-old child under her care.

The defense also argued that Agradaa has positively impacted many lives and continues to be a spiritual leader to a large congregation who depend on her.

Despite these arguments, the court maintained that the gravity of her offenses and her prior conviction warranted a custodial sentence.

She is expected to serve her sentence at a designated correctional facility immediately.

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