The legal experts raised concerns about deterrence, consistency in sentencing
The recent legal developments surrounding evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Agradaa, have generated intense public debate, particularly following the reduction of her sentence.
Several legal and public commentators have openly criticised the reduction of her sentence, raising concerns about deterrence, consistency in sentencing, and public confidence in the justice system.
Below are three notable voices who have spoken against the reduction of Agradaa’s jail term and why they criticised the move.
1.Brako-Powers – Lawyer and Policy Analyst
Private legal practitioner, Austin Kwabena Brako-Powers, is one of the strongest critics of the decision to drastically reduce Agradaa’s custodial sentence.
Professor Kwaku Azar ‘challenges’ court over reduced sentence in Nana Agradaa case
He described the reduction as a blow to the fight against fraud. He argued that it undermines the purpose of deterrence in criminal punishment, particularly in cases involving large-scale deception of vulnerable citizens.
According to him, such leniency risks sending the wrong signal to fraudsters and religious charlatans, while weakening public confidence in the criminal justice system.
2.Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare (Kwaku Azar) – Legal Scholar
Legal scholar Professor Stephen Kwaku Asare, known as Kwaku Azar, has also weighed in on the Agradaa case, offering a broader critique of how the matter was handled.
While acknowledging that the conviction itself was justified, he raised concerns about sentencing consistency and the legal reasoning surrounding fraud-related offences.
He argued that the case exposes gaps in Ghana’s criminal laws and highlights the need for urgent legal reforms to better address modern forms of deception, especially those perpetrated through media and on religious platforms.
3.Samson Lardy Anyenini – Lawyer and Broadcast Journalist
Renowned lawyer and broadcaster, Samson Lardy Anyenini, has also publicly criticised the reduction of Agradaa’s sentence, describing it as legally questionable and socially dangerous.
Anyenini criticised the Attorney General for what he described as a passive posture following the reduction of Agradaa’s sentence from 15 years to one year.
He argued that the Attorney General must take the matter to the Court of Appeal to have the sentence reversed.
Anyenini criticises sentence reduction in Agradaa’s case, urges AG to appeal
Anyenini questioned the basis for the sentence reduction, pointing to the statutory thresholds set for misdemeanours and felonies.
According to him, the state’s failure to appeal would send the wrong signal and weaken public confidence in the criminal justice system.
The concerns raised by these commentators reflect broader anxieties about sentencing consistency in fraud-related cases, deterrence against religious and media-based scams and public trust in Ghana’s justice system.
As the debate continues, the Agradaa case remains a touchstone for discussions on legal reform, judicial discretion, and accountability in high-profile criminal cases.
The High Court in Amasaman on February 5, 2026, slashed the 15-year prison sentence handed down to Evangelist Patricia Asiedua, popularly known as Nana Agradaa, to just one year.
The court’s decision followed her appeal against the original sentence for defrauding by false pretences, which involved duping church members of GH¢1000 during an all-night service at her Wejia-based church.
MRA/VPO
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