Will President Mahama Come To Agradaa’s Rescue? – Question

The air in Ghana is thick with speculation: Can President John Dramani Mahama wipe the slate clean for Evangelist Patricia Asiedua, alias Nana Agradaa?

Currently serving a 15-year sentence with hard labour for defrauding by false pretences and charlatanic advertisement, Agradaa’s conviction has stirred intense national debate not just about justice, but about presidential power.

Her downfall stems from a 2022 televised broadcast in which she claimed to possess spiritual powers to “double money.” Viewers were lured to her church, Heaven Way Champion Ministries, where she allegedly convinced them to hand over cash with promises of supernatural returns none of which materialised. The court found her guilty, and she is now behind bars.

But could she be released?

The Power and Limits of Presidential Mercy

Under Article 72 of Ghana’s 1992 Constitution, the President holds what’s called the “prerogative of mercy.” This includes the power to:

Grant a free pardon (full release)
Commute a sentence (reduce its length or severity)
Remit a penalty (cancel fines or part of the punishment)
Offer respite (temporary relief)
Substitute one form of punishment for another

However, this power isn’t absolute. The President must consult the Council of State before acting. This constitutional safeguard ensures the power is used responsibly, not at the whim of political favour or public pressure.

As Agradaa’s imprisonment continues to make headlines and draw public sympathy or outrage, many wonder whether a future Mahama administration would consider her case for clemency. Legally, he could but politically and ethically, the decision would carry immense weight.

For now, the question lingers: Will mercy meet justice, or will the law run its full course?

President John Mahama, you are the father of the nation. Please, even if Nana Agradaa has sinned against you, forgive her and look into her case,”

– Ghanaian retired boxer Bukom Banku weeps, says he is deeply pained by Nana Agradaa’s 15-year prison sentence and appeals for… pic.twitter.com/04ohbvPpRr

— EDHUB🌍ℹ (@eddie_wrt) July 5, 2025

Source: hypesmediagh.com