After being released from prison on Tuesday, 3 March 2026, Nana Agradaa, the self‑styled evangelist and founder of Heaven Way Champion International Ministry, has opened up about her time in custody and the spiritual strength that saw her through a frightening period in her life.
Agradaa, whose real name is Patricia Asiedua Asiamah Oduro Koranteng, was originally sentenced to 15 years in prison in July 2025 after being convicted on multiple counts, including charlatanic advertising and defrauding by false pretence related to a so‑called money‑doubling scheme she promoted at her church. The sentence was later reviewed and reduced to 12 months by an appellate court before remission was applied, allowing her to leave custody after serving about nine months.
In her first public remarks following her release, Agradaa described her early moments in custody as overwhelming and filled with fear. She told journalists she initially felt “as though I was coming to prison to die” and did not know what awaited her beyond the prison gate. It was in that moment, she said, that she turned to God, surrendered herself in prayer, and held on to her Bible for spiritual comfort.
Hers was not just a physical trial, she said, but a test of faith. When the prospect of a long prison term was announced to her, Agradaa admitted she struggled to comprehend why her sentence was so severe. But she resolved to lean entirely on prayer and the scriptures. Drawing inspiration from biblical stories of imprisonment and deliverance, including those of the Apostle Peter and Paul and Silas — who were freed after earnest prayer — she said her own faith was fortified day by day while behind bars.
Agradaa also reflected on other biblical figures such as Jonah and King Nebuchadnezzar, whom she said experienced hardship but ultimately found mercy after humbling themselves before God. Those spiritual lessons, she maintained, sustained her throughout her ordeal.
“I realised that if God created the heavens and the earth by His Word, then 15 years was nothing before Him,” she said, explaining that this belief helped her maintain hope and trust in divine intervention. She also vowed that if God showed her mercy and granted her release, she would dedicate herself fully to His service.
Her release comes under Ghana’s remission policy, which permits eligible inmates to receive a reduction of up to one‑third of their sentence for good behaviour. The High Court’s decision to revise her term from 15 years to one year, coupled with remission, made her early freedom possible.
Agradaa’s case has drawn significant public and media attention in Ghana. Critics have debated her practices and the legal consequences, while supporters have highlighted her transformation and newfound devotion to faith. As she returns to civilian life, many are watching closely to see how she will rebuild her ministry and public persona following her controversial conviction and time in prison.
