The woes of a self-styled evangelist, Patricia Asiedu, continue to deepen as the prosecution has slapped her with new charges.
The accused, also known as Nana Agradaa, who doubles as the founder of Heaven Way Champion Ministries International, pleaded not guilty to the fresh charges on Friday, October 14, 2022.
The new charges are charlatanic advertisement (Sika Gari) and five counts of defrauding by false pretence.
She was hauled before the Accra Circuit Court 10, presided over by Evelyn Asamoah, and remanded in lawful custody for two weeks.
The case has been adjourned to October 24, 2022.
Meanwhile, the latest charges are similar to those she faces at Circuit Court 9.
The new charges come a day after Agradaa was remanded by the first court presided by Mr Samuel Bright Acquah.
She 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.