Evangelist Patricia Asiedua, widely known as Nana Agradaa, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labour after being found guilty on charges of defrauding by false pretence and engaging in charlatanic advertisement.
The ruling, delivered this week by an Accra Circuit Court, marks a dramatic turning point for the controversial figure once celebrated for her spiritual shows and later rebranded as a Christian evangelist.
Agradaa’s conviction follows a 2022 television broadcast in which she promised to “double” cash brought to her altar, a scheme that left many victims destitute and outraged.
Investigations revealed that several followers handed over large sums of money in faith, hoping to receive miraculous returns as advertised. Instead, they were met with silence and empty promises. The court described her actions as a “carefully orchestrated deception for personal gain,” underscoring the severity of the fraud.
Beyond the criminal sentence, Agradaa’s public image has taken further blows through a separate civil suit involving gospel musician Empress Gifty. In a closely watched legal battle, the Tema High Court ruled in favour of Gifty, dismissing Agradaa’s attempt to strike out a GHC20 million defamation lawsuit. The court also ordered Agradaa to pay GHC6,000 in legal costs to Gifty, setting the stage for potential further damages.
The feud between Agradaa and Empress Gifty erupted after Agradaa took to social media with a series of disparaging allegations against the singer and her husband, politician Hopeson Adorye. Gifty, determined to defend her reputation, turned to the courts — a move that has now been vindicated.
Once a self-styled traditional priestess revered by thousands, Agradaa’s transformation into an evangelist was seen by many as an attempt to cleanse her image. However, her repeated controversies, including claims of miracle money schemes and fierce personal attacks, have kept her in the public eye for all the wrong reasons.
As Agradaa begins her 15-year sentence, her future remains mired in legal and personal battles. Meanwhile, observers say her case sends a strong message about accountability in Ghana’s fast-growing religious and spiritual landscape — a space where charismatic personalities often wield enormous influence, for better or worse.
