The Amasaman High Court has rejected a bail application filed on behalf of Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, the self-styled evangelist and former fetish priestess currently serving a 15-year prison sentence.
The court, in its ruling, noted that Agradaa’s request for bail could not be granted at this time due to the absence of complete records from the trial court.
It instructed her legal team to ensure that all processes and documents from the Circuit Court are properly submitted in relation to the substantive appeal she has filed.
The State is reported to have raised formal objections to the bail application, further complicating her bid for temporary release while her appeal is under consideration.
Conviction for fraud and charlatanic advertisement
Agradaa was sentenced on July 3, 2025, by the Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Her Honour Evelyn Asamoah, after being found guilty of three criminal charges — one count of charlatanic advertisement and two counts of defrauding by false pretences.
The trial, which began in October 2023, centred around claims by multiple complainants that they were lured into handing over large sums of money during what they believed were religious “seed sowing” services, only to later discover they had been duped.
The prosecution argued that Agradaa, under the guise of her religious operations, deliberately broadcast misleading advertisements on television and social media, promising financial breakthroughs and spiritual rewards in exchange for cash contributions.
Appeal challenges length and harshness of the sentence
Following her conviction, Agradaa’s legal team quickly moved to file an appeal, describing the 15-year custodial sentence as “harsh and excessive” given the circumstances of the case.
Her lawyers have maintained that the trial court erred in law and fact, and that the punishment imposed failed to properly consider mitigating factors, including her status as a first-time offender, her purported efforts at restitution, and her evolving role as a religious leader.
The defence has also argued that their client poses no flight risk and would comply with any conditions the court may impose while the appeal is being determined.
However, the High Court made clear that the appeal process must follow due procedure, and that bail would not be granted until all relevant records — particularly those from the lower court — are duly presented and assessed.
No freedom, yet
With the rejection of her bail request, Agradaa remains in custody as her legal team races to complete the necessary paperwork for the appeal to proceed in earnest.
The case continues to draw national attention not only for the identity of the accused — a controversial public figure who has transitioned from traditional religion to Pentecostal evangelism — but also for its wider implications regarding religious fraud, media ethics, and criminal accountability in spiritual spaces
Agradaa’s next court date in relation to the appeal has not yet been fixed.
