Ex-priestess turned evangelist convicted for scamming followers through fake spiritual claims
By Alex Ababio
Accra — A Circuit Court in Accra has handed a 15-year prison sentence to Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, widely known as Nana Agradaa, after finding her guilty of defrauding unsuspecting followers with a fake money-doubling scheme.
The former traditional priestess, who rebranded herself as a Christian evangelist, was convicted on multiple counts, including charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretence.
In a 2022 televised broadcast, Agradaa claimed to possess divine powers capable of doubling money. Many victims were persuaded to hand over large sums of cash, lured by the promise of instant wealth through supernatural means. None of these promises materialised.
The sentencing, delivered this week, is seen as a major victory in the country’s ongoing crackdown on spiritual fraud and religious exploitation.
Before final judgment, the court ordered a mandatory pregnancy test — a standard procedure for female convicts — which confirmed she was not pregnant, allowing sentencing to proceed without delay.
Legal analysts and human rights advocates have welcomed the ruling, describing it as a deterrent against manipulative religious figures who prey on public desperation.