Ghanaian fetish turned evangelist, Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, popularly known as Nana Agradaa’s 15-year sentence that was slashed by 14 years by the Amasaman High Court on Thursday, February 5, following an appeal by her lawyers.

After the slash, she was expected to be released on July 3 this year, but speculation began to swirl about her imminent release in March 2026 which has stirred reactions with some netizens citing ‘special treatment’ of Agrdaa. However, her lawyer, Richard Asare Baffour, has clarified that the anticipated release of evangelist Patricia Asiedua Asiamah is in line with Ghana’s standard remission policy and not due to any special treatment.

The remission policy generally refers to rules or legal provisions that allow for the reduction, suspension, or cancellation of certain obligations, most commonly criminal sentences, fines, or government service fees. Its purpose is to ensure fairness, recognise good conduct, or account for special circumstances.

The lawyer explained that the remission policy allows qualifying prisoners to serve only two-thirds of their sentence, with the remaining one-third remitted by the state. Consequently, Nana Agradaa, who was sentenced to 12 months, would therefore serve eight months under this provision.

“The sentence took effect retrospectively from July 3, 2025, the date of conviction and imprisonment. Serving eight months from that date sets her release for March 3, 2026,” he said.

He emphasised that the remission policy applies to all eligible prisoners and is not a special dispensation for any individual.

“There is no special treatment given to anyone. It applies to all prisoners, including Mama Pats,” he added.

Agradaa was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment each on two counts of defrauding by false pretence, with the court ordering her to serve the two sentences concurrently and fined GH¢300 for charlatanic advertisement on her TV station, Today’s TV.

Agradaa was officially transferred to the Nsawam Female Prison on Saturday, July 5, just two days after she was sentenced by Judge Evelyn E. Asamoah at the Accra Circuit Court ‘10’ on Thursday, July 3, 2025.

The Circuit Court in Accra delivered its sentence after confirming that she is not pregnant.

In 2022, she was accused of luring her victims through claims that she possessed spiritual powers to double their money.

Initially admitting guilt to charges including fraudulent advertising and obtaining money under false pretences, she spent two weeks in remand before being granted bail of GH₵150,000 with three sureties, one requiring justification.

Why was she sentenced?

She tricked members of her church into handing over their cash during a night vigil service in Weija, Accra, on October 7.

According to the prosecution, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah, it was confirmed that Agradaa, on October 5, advertised on her TV station that she was organising a night vigil on October 7, intended to share GH¢300,000 with all participants who needed money for business or to pay rent. According to the prosecution, the former priestess displayed large sums of money during the advert while encouraging the public to turn up in their numbers for support.

Consequently, many came from far and near in attendance for the service. During the service, she directed the congregation to form groups of 20 members, and each member was to pay monies starting from GH¢1,000 and above, after which some groups would be given GH¢50,000 to share, while other groups would receive GH¢40,000, and GH¢25,000.

The prosecution said some of the groups gave Agradaa 25,000 cedis, while other people parted with various sums of money.

Agradaa, after obtaining those monies, left the service and ordered her bouncers to block any access to her. She failed her promise, resulting in the complainants getting stranded at the church premises, the prosecution said.

Her husband’s remarks on wife’s sentence. In a statement made after the verdict, Pastor Asiamah claimed that the allegations of fraud stemmed from the offertory collected during that service.

On the other hand, her legal team described her sentence as “excessive,” noting that the amount in question was only GH¢540, vowing to file an appeal on Monday, claiming the punishment is more about who Agradaa is than what she is alleged to have done.

The Circuit Court in Accra delivered its sentence after confirming that she is not pregnant.

Also on January 20, this year, the Tema High Court directed Nana Agradaa to pay GH¢100,000 in damages to gospel musician Empress Gifty Adorye following a defamation action.

The decision concludes a legal battle that started in May 2025, when Empress Gifty instituted a GH¢20 million lawsuit, accusing Nana Agradaa of making defamatory remarks about her.

The matter was determined at the Tema High Court “A”, with Justice Janet Marfo presiding, after both parties reached an agreement to resolve the case outside the courtroom.

As part of the settlement, the court further ordered Nana Agradaa to withdraw all claims made against Empress Gifty and render an unreserved public apology.

According to Adom News reporter Mike Two, the ruling effectively brings the dispute between the two personalities to an end.

Nonetheless, Nana Agradaa has been slapped with a fine of GHS12,000 for displaying nude photos of fellow pastor Emmanuel Appiah Fumum, also known as Osofo Biblical.

She has been further ordered to pay GHS50,000 as compensation to the complainant. Agradaa’s conviction resulted from a plea bargain agreement with the State, concluding a legal battle that had dragged on for nearly three years.

The case stems from claims that Nana Agradaa, a former fetish priestess turned evangelist, aired nude images of Pastor Emmanuel Appiah Fumum (widely known as Osofo Biblical) on her television channel and social media pages without his permission.

Prosecutors say the images were broadcast during a live programme where panellists mocked the complainant, conduct they argue violates the Cybersecurity Act, 2020 (Act 1038), which prohibits the sharing of intimate images without consent.