Court adjourns sentencing of female spiritualist in fraud case

Accra Circuit Court Defers Sentencing of Spiritualist Convicted of GH¢95,100 Fraud

The Accra Circuit Court has postponed the sentencing of 35-year-old spiritualist Nana Adwoa Yamoah following her conviction for defrauding a man of GH¢95,100 under the guise of helping him become the Chief of Ntotroso in the Ashanti Region.

The court adjourned the case to April 4, 2026, after Yamoah’s defence lawyer requested permission to change her plea. The defence argued that Yamoah did not fully understand the nature of the offences she had admitted to. However, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Augustine Kingsley Oppong, representing the prosecution, opposed the application, stating that Yamoah had voluntarily pleaded guilty during trial and that a pregnancy test had cleared the way for sentencing.

Presiding Judge Mr. Dennis Eyram Fumey ruled that the court could not overturn the conviction, noting that Yamoah had pleaded guilty to all three charges. He confirmed that the court would proceed to determine the appropriate sentence on the next sitting.

The defence counsel urged the court to exercise leniency, citing several mitigating factors: Yamoah’s age, her status as a first-time offender, her role as a single parent of five children, and her willingness to refund the money within a week. They requested that the court consider alternatives to imprisonment.

Yamoah was subsequently remanded into police custody pending sentencing.

The prosecution stated that Yamoah admitted to defrauding the complainant, Mr. Douglas Abu, practising spiritual services without registration, and operating without a valid licence. According to ASP Oppong, the incidents began in 2025 when Abu was introduced to Yamoah by a witness who described her as a spiritualist capable of influencing traditional leadership outcomes.

Yamoah allegedly told Abu that she had previously assisted other individuals to become chiefs and claimed to have personal links with the Asantehene, the traditional ruler of the Ashanti people. She initially collected GH¢51,000 from Abu with promises of doubling the amount through spiritual intervention. When these promises failed, Yamoah reportedly took Abu to the Republic of Benin to perform fortification rituals, which also did not materialise.

When Abu demanded a refund, Yamoah allegedly refused to return the money, prompting her arrest on March 9, 2026. Subsequent investigations revealed that she was not registered with the Traditional Medicine Practice Council and had previously used similar methods to defraud other clients. She was arraigned in court and eventually convicted after pleading guilty. 

This case highlights ongoing concerns over unlicensed spiritual practitioners in Ghana who exploit clients through false promises of traditional and spiritual advancement. Under Ghanaian law, practising traditional medicine or spiritual services without proper registration or licence is illegal and can attract both fines and custodial sentences.

The court’s upcoming sentencing will determine whether Yamoah will serve prison time or face alternative penalties, including restitution to her victim.