Patricia Asiedua, also known as Evangelist Mama Pat or Agradaa, has filed for bail pending the outcome of an appeal currently before the Amasaman High Court. The founder of Heaven Way Champion International Ministry is serving a 15-year prison sentence imposed by an Accra Circuit Court on July 3, 2025, after she was convicted of engaging in charlatanic advertisement and two counts of defrauding by false pretences.
Her legal team contends that the conviction is unsafe and the sentence excessive, citing “serious procedural flaws” and “bias exhibited by the trial judge.” They argue the trial court failed to properly consider mitigating factors at sentencing, despite making reference to Ghana’s Sentencing Guidelines (2021), which call for proportionality, judicial discretion, and a balancing of aggravating and mitigating factors.
Historical Background
Agradaa has been a controversial figure in Ghana’s religious and media landscape. A former traditional priestess turned self-styled Christian evangelist, she gained notoriety through her television programs and public claims of performing money-doubling rituals—known locally as “sika gari.” In October 2021, she was first arrested by Ghanaian authorities for operating a television station without a license and for promoting dubious spiritual schemes.
In 2022, following her professed conversion to Christianity, she rebranded herself as Evangelist Mama Pat and established the Heaven Way Church in Weija. However, shortly after launching the ministry, multiple complaints were lodged by members of the public who alleged that she had defrauded them under false pretenses—promising financial breakthroughs in exchange for large sums of money.
These allegations led to her arrest and prosecution in 2023 and 2024. Her trial attracted widespread public and media attention, with many criticizing the apparent exploitation of vulnerable followers through the misuse of religious platforms.
Current Legal Status
Following her conviction and sentencing in July 2025, Agradaa’s legal team filed an appeal challenging both the verdict and the severity of the sentence. The bail application currently before the High Court argues that the appeal has a “strong chance of success” and that continued detention may infringe her rights if the conviction is later overturned.
The High Court’s ruling on the bail application is now awaited and may set a precedent on how appellate courts approach bail in cases involving religious fraud and public interest convictions.
