Lawyers for convicted self-styled evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, have filed a formal appeal challenging her conviction and 15-year custodial sentence imposed by the Circuit Court in Accra.
Filed on Monday, July 7, the appeal contests the legal basis of the judgment, describing it as unreasonable and unsupportable by the evidence adduced during trial.
The legal team is asking a higher court to set aside both the conviction and the sentence, arguing that the trial process was fundamentally flawed.
Among the primary grounds of appeal is the contention that the trial judge erred in law by shifting the burden of proof onto the accused, thereby requiring her to prove her innocence.
The lawyers maintain that this approach contravenes Article 19(2)(c) of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence until proven guilty. They insist that the prosecution failed to meet the threshold of proof required under criminal law.
The appeal further alleges that the trial judge demonstrated manifest bias and personal hostility towards Nana Agradaa throughout the proceedings.
Her defense team claims that there were repeated instances of harassment and intimidation directed at her counsel in open court, which undermined their ability to defend her effectively.
They argue that such conduct infringed upon the constitutional right of the accused to fair legal representation.
Another key aspect of the appeal is the assertion that the sentence imposed—15 years with hard labour—is harsh and disproportionate when weighed against the facts and context of the case.
The lawyers argue that the custodial term fails to consider mitigating factors and does not reflect a balanced exercise of judicial discretion.
The notice of appeal also indicates that additional grounds may be filed when the full judgment becomes available to the defense.
Nana Agradaa was convicted on July 3, 2025, by the Circuit Court presided over by Her Honour Evelyn Asamoah.
The court found her guilty on three counts of charlatanic advertisement and two counts of defrauding by false pretenses. She was sentenced to a fine of 25 penalty units, equivalent to GH¢300, or in default, 30 days in prison.
Additionally, she was handed a 15-year sentence with hard labour for the two counts of defrauding by false pretenses, with the custodial sentences set to run concurrently.
The court, in its judgment, cited premeditation and deliberate execution of the fraudulent acts as aggravating factors. It noted that the offenses were serious, and the sentence was intended to serve as a deterrent to others.
The judge also pointed out that the convict showed no remorse throughout the trial.
According to the prosecution, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police Emmanuel Haligah, Nana Agradaa lured her victims through television broadcasts and church services with promises of doubling their money through spiritual means.
The scam was carried out at her Weija-based church, Godsway International Ministry.
The court also took into account a prior conviction in 2021 for a similar offense, which the prosecution said demonstrated a pattern of deceitful conduct.
Before sentencing, a pregnancy test conducted on Nana Agradaa returned negative.
In his plea for mitigation, defense counsel Richard Asare Baffour appealed for leniency, highlighting her role as a mother of five, including a university student and a toddler.
He also emphasized her consistent presence in court and claimed she had shown remorse—a view the court ultimately rejected.
As the appeal process commences, Nana Agradaa remains in custody, awaiting the outcome of her latest legal challenge.
Brief Facts:
According to the brief facts of the case, the accused, Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, is the founder of Heaven Way Champions International Ministry, Weija, and resides at Weija, Accra.
On October 10, 2022, the complainants reported to the police that the accused demanded and received sums of money from them under the pretext of giving them various sums of money in return.
Investigations established that on October 5, 2022, the accused advertised on Today’s TV and other social media platforms that she was organizing an all-night service on October 7, 2022, at Heaven Way Champions International Ministry, where she would share an amount of GH¢300,000.00 with all participants who needed money to fund their business or pay rent.
The accused displayed bundles of money during the advertisement and encouraged members of the public to attend the service for a share of the money.
Due to the false representation made in the advertisements, complainants and other members of the public attended the all-night service, where they were directed to form groups and pay various sums of money.
The accused promised to give each group a specific amount of money, but after obtaining the money, she failed to fulfill her promise and left the complainants stranded.
Further investigations established that the accused undertook the charlatanic advertisement with the intent to defraud unsuspecting complainants.
The accused admitted to the allegations during interrogations, leading to her arraignment before the court.
