The prosecution handling the case of a self-styled evangelist, Patricia Asiedu, has asked for more time to file all disclosures it intends to rely on for the trial.
The accused, also known as Nana Agradaa, who doubles as the founder of Heaven Way Champion Ministries International, has been hauled before an Accra Circuit Court.
She has been charged with one count of charlatanic advertisement (Sika Gari) and five counts of defrauding by false pretence.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges and has since been on bail.
When the case was called on Thursday, December 15, the prosecution, led by DSP Sylvester Asare, prayed for an adjournment to enable them to file their documents and serve them on the defence lawyers.
After listening to the parties, the court, presided over by Evelyn Asamoah, adjourned the case to January 25, 2023.
The accused was present when the case was called.
Background
Nana Agradaa was arrested on Sunday, October 9, for allegedly scamming some church members.
A statement issued by the police said, “Anyone who is a victim of the alleged money doubling scam should report to the Accra Regional Police Command for further action to assist the investigation”.
This followed a viral video on social media of victims recounting their losses.
Some victims said they went to the church of Nana Agradaa as she advertised on her TV programme that she would be doubling money during Friday’s all-night service.
Based on this assurance, the affected worshippers said they were convinced to give her various sums in expectation of multiplied outcomes.
Agradaa’s past sins
Two Television stations, Ice TV and Thunder TV, belonging to the priestess, were shut down on April 20, 2021.
The two media houses were amongst many on the state’s list in the wake of clamping down on charlatans and swindlers.
Nana Agradaa, who was operating as a fetish priest then, swindled an uncountable number of her gullible audience under the pretext of doubling cash for them through her openly advertised ‘Sika Gari’ ritual concept.
The said stations used as advertisement tools had many unsuspecting Ghanaians fall prey to Nana Agradaa’s scam.
Nana Agradaa’s Thunder TV had its authorization revoked on March 24, 2020, according to the National Communications Authority (NCA).
On the other hand, Ice TV, another member of the ‘Agradaa conglomerate’, also operated illegally even after a written directive to cease operations was served.
Records available to theghanareport.com indicate that the authorization of Ice TV expired on February 26, 2020.
After several days in court, she changed her not guilty plea to a guilty plea and was fined 3,000 penalty units (GH₵36,000) on count one, which is operating a TV station without a license.
For the offence of charlatanic advertisement (Sika Gari), the court sentenced her to a fine of GH₵10, 000.