Patricia Asiedua Asiamah, widely known as Nana Agradaa, a former traditional priestess turned evangelist and founder of Heaven Way International Church, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison with hard labour. The Accra Circuit Court, presided over by Justice Evelyn Asamoah, convicted her on July 3, 2025, on multiple counts of charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretence. This verdict is largely seen as a significant step in Ghana’s legal battle against fraudulent spiritual practices, with Prosecutor Mark Smith emphasizing that no one is above the law when it comes to defrauding citizens.

The legal case against Nana Agradaa originated from a televised broadcast in 2022 where she claimed to possess spiritual powers to double money. This deceptive claim enticed many desperate Ghanaians, leading them to part with significant sums in anticipation of instant wealth. During an all-night service on October 7, 2022, at her Heaven Way Champion International Ministry, Agradaa displayed bundles of money and promised to share GH¢300,000.00 among participants. Attendees were directed to form groups and pay various amounts, such as GH¢1000, GH¢900, or GH¢500, with the promise of receiving much larger sums in return. However, after collecting the monies, she failed to fulfil her promises, leaving victims stranded. Her conviction followed a mandatory pregnancy test and extensive police investigations, led by Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Emmanuel Haligah.

Public reaction to the sentence has been divided. While many Ghanaians celebrate it as a crucial victory for the rule of law and accountability against spiritual manipulation, others view it as an infringement on religious freedom. Supporters cite Ghana's Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), specifically Sections 131–132 (defrauding by false pretences) and Section 137 (charlatanic advertisement), arguing that religious freedom does not protect criminal activity. Legal expert Dr. Kwesi Botchway noted the ruling validates victims' cries and boosts public trust in the legal system. Critics, however, claim the money given was voluntary offerings, not fraudulent inducements, and that spiritual transactions are beyond secular court jurisdiction, asserting it's an attack on a woman of God.

Ghana’s legal approach to such cases offers a distinct contrast to that of the United States. Ghana's criminal law directly addresses