The Amasaman High Court has reduced the 15-year prison sentence handed to self-styled evangelist Nana Agradaa, born Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, to a one-year custodial term after ruling that the original punishment was harsh and disproportionate to the offences committed.
Agradaa was convicted in July 2025 by a circuit court on charges of charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretences, following a widely publicised money-doubling scheme that targeted members of the public. The trial court sentenced her to 15 years’ imprisonment with hard labour, a decision that immediately sparked public debate over the severity of the punishment.
On appeal, the Amasaman High Court upheld Agradaa’s conviction, agreeing that the evidence on record supported the findings that she intentionally misled victims and obtained money under false pretences. However, the court took a different view on sentencing.
In its ruling, the High Court held that while the offences were serious and warranted custodial punishment, the 15-year sentence imposed by the trial court was excessive when weighed against the specific facts of the case. The judge noted that sentencing must be proportionate, taking into account the nature of the offence, the circumstances of the offender and established sentencing principles under Ghanaian law.
Exercising its discretionary powers, the court varied the sentence and reduced it to 12 calendar months, effective from the date of her conviction in July 2025. The decision means Agradaa will serve a significantly shorter term while the conviction itself remains intact.
Legal analysts say the ruling reflects the appellate court’s role in correcting sentences deemed manifestly harsh or excessive, without overturning valid convictions. The case has reignited wider discussions about sentencing consistency, deterrence and judicial discretion in high-profile fraud cases in Ghana.
Despite the reduction, the court’s decision reinforces the message that fraudulent religious and commercial schemes remain punishable offences, even as it underscores the judiciary’s responsibility to ensure that punishment fits both the crime and the offender.
Amasaman High Court reduces Nana Agradaa’s 15-year prison sentence to 12 months