President John Dramani Mahama has granted amnesty to 998 prisoners across Ghana’s correctional facilities, following recommendations from the Prisons Service Council and consultation with the Council of State.
The announcement was made on August 18, 2025, with categories covered including first-time offenders, death row inmates, life sentences commuted, seriously ill inmates, inmates over 70 years old, nursing mothers, and special petitioners.
Breaking Down the Amnesty List
The breakdown for Mahama’s amnesty program includes:
- 787 first-time offenders
- 87 death sentences commuted to life imprisonment
- 51 life sentences reduced to 20 years definite terms
- 33 seriously ill inmates
- 36 prisoners above 70 years of age
- 2 nursing mothers
- 2 petitioners
Nana Agradaa: Is She Part of the Amnesty List?
There has been widespread speculation over whether popular spiritualist and evangelist Nana Agradaa (Patricia Asiedua) is among those granted presidential amnesty. Social media posts and online gossips suggested that President Mahama may have pardoned Agradaa along with other high-profile inmates.
However, official reports clarify that Nana Agradaa is not included in the list of pardoned prisoners. A statement released by the presidency explicitly noted that both Agradaa and fellow inmate Ato Essien are not part of the prisoners granted presidential pardon with this amnesty round. This confirmation puts to rest earlier rumors and clears the air on her legal status following her recent conviction.
Public Reaction
The news that Nana Agradaa is not on the amnesty list has sparked mixed reactions both online and offline, particularly amongst her supporters and in religious circles. While some were hopeful for her inclusion, authorities reiterated the importance of following due legal process and maintaining the integrity of presidential mercy.
President Mahama’s amnesty covered a broad segment of the prison population under compassionate and constitutional grounds. Nana Agradaa, despite rumors and public speculation, is not one of those released under this scheme. The move highlights the importance of transparency in such national exercises and the impact of social media on public perception.
For now, Nana Agradaa remains in prison, and any changes to her status would need to come through other legal channels.