An Amasaman High Court has significantly reduced the custodial sentence of self-styled evangelist Patricia Asiedua, widely known as Nana Agradaa, from 15 years’ imprisonment to 12 calendar months. The ruling was delivered on February 5, 2026, after the judge concluded that the initial sentence imposed by a lower court was unduly harsh.
Nana Agradaa was originally sentenced in July 2025 by an Accra Circuit Court. Her conviction stemmed from charges including charlatanic advertisement and defrauding members of the public by false pretences. At the time, the circuit court handed down a 15-year term with hard labour, a sentence considered one of the longest for such offences in recent Ghanaian legal history.
Following the initial conviction, Agradaa's legal team lodged an appeal against the sentence. They contended that the 15-year term was disproportionate to the nature of the offences committed and inconsistent with established sentencing principles. This appeal led to the comprehensive review by the high court, where the judge meticulously assessed both the factual basis of the case and the specifics of the original sentence.
In its decisive ruling, the Amasaman High Court determined that the original 15-year sentence was indeed unduly harsh. Consequently, it exercised its judicial discretion to impose a revised custodial term of 12 months. This decision underscores the court’s authority to moderate sentences when it perceives the initial term to be disproportionate to the conduct and the broader interests of justice.
It is important to note that the high court’s decision exclusively pertains to the length of the sentence and does not constitute an acquittal on the underlying offences. Nana Agradaa remains convicted of the charges for which she was originally found guilty, with the revised 12-month term now governing her period of custody.