In a dramatic courtroom development at the Amasaman High Court in Accra, the 15-year prison sentence handed to controversial preacher and former traditional priestess Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, has been drastically reduced to just one year.
The ruling followed an appeal by her legal team challenging the severity of the original sentence imposed by an Accra Circuit Court in July 2025. Nana Agradaa had been convicted on charges including charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretence after a widely followed trial that saw several victims testify about being deceived through religious broadcasts and spiritual promises of financial breakthroughs.
In reviewing the case, the High Court upheld her conviction but described the initial 15-year jail term as excessive and disproportionate to the offences committed. The court subsequently varied the sentence to a 12-month custodial term, effective from the date of her original conviction.
With approximately seven months already served in prison, Nana Agradaa now has about five months left to complete her sentence, paving the way for her possible release later this year.
The court’s decision has triggered intense public debate across the country, with many Ghanaians expressing mixed reactions. While some supporters have welcomed the reduction as fair and humane, others believe the original sentence should have been maintained to serve as a strong deterrent against religious fraud.
Emotional scenes reportedly unfolded outside the courtroom as sympathisers celebrated the ruling. Her husband publicly expressed joy over the development, while several public figures and social media commentators weighed in on what the decision means for justice and accountability in Ghana.
Nana Agradaa is currently serving her sentence at the Nsawam Female Prison as investigations into related complaints from victims continue. The case remains one of Ghana’s most talked-about legal battles involving religious influence, public trust, and financial exploitation.
