Following discussions about the reduction of Evangelist Patricia Asiedua (popularly known as Nana Agradaa)’s jail term from 15 years to 12 months, attention has now turned to the details contained in the court’s full ruling.

In the court document currently making rounds online, presiding judge His Lordship Solomon Oppong-Twumasi noted that the convicted preacher, through her lawyers, expressed remorse for her actions.

According to the judge, Agradaa’s lawyers informed the court that their client was extremely fearful ahead of the hearing, to the point where she could not sleep at night and was even afraid to attend the final sentencing.

Here are the grounds of appeal filed against Agradaa’s 15-year sentence

“The Appellant, through her lawyers, showed a lot of remorse to the extent that she was said to have been afraid to attend the sentencing hearing and could not sleep for days.

“Her lawyers then went down on their knees to beg the court to spare the Appellant a custodial sentence, pleading that as a mother with young children, such a sentence would affect not only the Appellant but also her innocent children,” part of the judgment noted.

His Lordship Oppong-Twumasi also noted in his ruling that the victims of the offence for which Agradaa was convicted and initially sentenced to 15 years were only two, even though three other individuals claimed to have been defrauded by the appellant.

According to him, the total amount involved was GH¢4,000; however, only two of the alleged victims came forward to assist the Republic in the prosecution of the case.

The judge further noted that Nana Agradaa had been ordered to refund GH¢1,000 to the victims of her crime.

Ex-convict label won’t change Agradaa’s calling as Minister of God - Lawyer asserts

The document further noted that the Circuit Court did not consider the 32 days Agradaa spent in custody while awaiting judgment, adding that the original 15-year sentence was excessively harsh.

Background

Agradaa is currently serving her sentence at the Nsawam Female Prison after an Accra Circuit Court handed her a 15-year conviction on July 3, 2025, for charlatanic advertising and defrauding by false pretences.

She was accused of collecting various sums of money from church attendees after promoting supposed money-doubling powers.

Prosecutors based their case on her activities on Today’s TV and several social media platforms, where she advertised the scheme and encouraged the public to attend an all-night church service, promising to double their money through spiritual intervention.

More than 1,000 people reportedly attended the service and handed over large sums of cash. However, the promise was not fulfilled, leaving many financially distressed.

Agradaa and her lawyers subsequently filed an appeal and first appeared before the Amasaman High Court on December 4, 2025.

Appeal

Agradaa, through her lawyers, argued that the trial was unfair, that the evidence did not support the ruling, and that the 15-year sentence was excessive.

Why Agradaa's sentence has been reduced

On Thursday, February 5, 2026, the Amasaman High Court delivered a landmark judgment, reducing her original 15-year prison term to 12 months.

The ruling means Nana Agradaa will serve a one-year sentence under the revised judgment unless further legal action is pursued.


Read the full statement below:



JHM/EB