The Accra Circuit Court has found self-styled evangelist and former fetish priestess Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, guilty of two serious offenses: charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretenses.
Nana Agradaa aired televised adverts in 2022 falsely claiming a supernatural ability to double people’s money.
These “money-doubling” ads were deemed to exploit vulnerable Ghanaians.
Defrauding by false pretenses
The court ruled that her actions—soliciting large sums under false promises—amounted to deliberate fraud. The money-doubling scheme led many congregants and members of her ministry to part with significant funds on the belief that their money would multiply.
During the hearing, Judge Evelyn Asamoah ordered that Nana Agradaa undergo a pregnancy test prior to the formal sentencing—a standard procedure in Ghanaian courts for pregnant defendants.
Previous legal history
Nana Agradaa has a well-documented legal past, including:
June 2021: She pleaded guilty to operating an unlicensed TV station (Thunder TV and Ice One TV) and engaging in charlatanic adverts like “Sika Gari.”
She was fined GH¢36,000 (or 3 years’ hard labor if unpaid) plus GH¢10,000 (or 1 year) for false advertising—sentences to run concurrently.
October 2022: She again faced charges for money-doubling promotions and was granted bail of GH¢50,000 (later increased to GH¢150,000) while standing trial on charlatanic advertising and multiple counts of defrauding by false pretences.
Key Takeaways
Nana Agradaa’s 2025 conviction arises from new evidence tied to 2022 televised schemes, separate from her earlier 2021 case.
Today’s verdict on two counts (charlatanic advertisement + false pretenses) advances the legal narrative, moving from fines to potential imprisonment.
The court is expected to hand down her sentence soon, pending the results of the pregnancy test.
Impact
This conviction highlights a larger issue in Ghana’s regulatory landscape: the exploitation of spiritual beliefs for financial gain.
