The Amasaman High Court has dismissed an application for bail filed by convicted evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, as she awaits a decision on her appeal challenging a 15-year prison sentence.
Nana Agradaa, founder of Heaven Way Champion International Ministry, was convicted by an Accra Circuit Court on July 3, 2025, for engaging in charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretences.
She was handed a cumulative sentence of 15 years with hard labour, to run concurrently on two counts of fraud and one of deceitful advertising.
Following her conviction, Agradaa’s legal team, led by Richard Asare Baffour, swiftly filed an appeal on July 6, 2025, challenging the ruling and sentencing. A subsequent application for bail pending appeal was submitted on July 9, 2025.
At a hearing on Tuesday, July 15, presided over by Justice Dr. Richmond Osei Hwere, the High Court rejected the bail request.
The judge, however, ordered the Registrar of the Circuit Court to produce the full records of the proceedings within 14 days to facilitate a timely hearing of the appeal.
Counsel for Agradaa argued that her conviction was unjust and the sentence excessive. In a supporting statement, her legal team claimed that the trial was riddled with procedural flaws and judicial bias, asserting that the trial judge failed to properly evaluate key evidence and disregarded mitigating circumstances during sentencing—despite citing Ghana’s Sentencing Guidelines.
The legal team also argued that the burden of proof was improperly shifted to the accused, particularly in relation to video footage presented by the defence.
According to them, instead of requiring the prosecution to prove that lights and cameras were turned off during the alleged deception, the judge placed the onus on Agradaa to prove they were on—despite her denial of any such instruction.
Further criticisms included the judge’s reliance on a statement made by a Master of Ceremonies (MC) in the video footage to discredit Agradaa’s testimony, even though the complainants had specifically alleged that she personally issued the directive in question.
“The trial judge’s reliance on the MC’s comment to undermine the applicant’s denial is unjustified,” the lawyers argued, claiming the judge selectively analysed the evidence.
Agradaa’s team contended that the judgment made no mention of the mitigating factors presented, despite her plea in mitigation, and that the sentence handed down failed to reflect proportionality within the prescribed sentencing scales.
In their submission, her lawyers assured the Court that she would comply with all bail conditions, present herself as required, and ensure that her sureties could meet any demands set by the Court.
Nonetheless, the High Court ruled against the bail application. Agradaa will remain in custody while awaiting the outcome of the appeal.
Justice Evelyn Asamoah, who presided over the initial trial at the Circuit Court, imposed a 25-penalty-unit fine or a 30-day custodial sentence for the charlatanic advertisement, and 15 years with hard labour for each of the two fraud charges, to run concurrently.
