Agradaa Sentence Cut: Anyenini Pressures Attorney-General

Renowned legal practitioner and broadcaster Samson Lardy Anyenini has sharply criticized the Attorney-General for failing to challenge the drastic reduction of evangelist Patricia Asiedua’s prison sentence. He warned that such inaction risks undermining public confidence in Ghana’s justice system.

Concerns About Dereliction of Duty

Speaking on JoyNews’ NewsFile programme on Saturday, February 7, 2026, Anyenini described the Attorney-General’s silence after Agradaa’s jail term was cut from 15 years to one year as a serious dereliction of duty. He argued that the matter should not end with the High Court’s ruling. Instead, he insisted that the Attorney-General has a constitutional and professional obligation to escalate the case to the Court of Appeal.

“This is not a situation where you sit back and say, ‘I secured fifteen years, the court reduced it to one year, and my work is done,’” Anyenini said. “No. The state expects you to pursue this matter to the Court of Appeal and have that sentence reversed.”

Legal Questions About Sentencing

Although the High Court reduced the sentence, it upheld Agradaa’s conviction and confirmed that the circuit court judge acted properly. Anyenini argued that this contradiction raises serious legal and logical questions about the basis for such a sharp reduction in punishment.

He further examined Ghana’s sentencing framework, noting that clear statutory thresholds exist for both misdemeanours and felonies. Agradaa was convicted of a misdemeanour and a second-degree felony. Even under the former legal regime, custodial sentences are subject to defined limits.

“These sentencing thresholds were established for a reason,” he stressed. Courts must apply them consistently to preserve fairness and deterrence.

Risks to Public Confidence

Anyenini warned that failure by the state to appeal the ruling could weaken public trust in the justice system. It could also create the perception that influential individuals receive undue leniency.

“If the state fails to appeal this reduction, it sends a dangerous message and amounts to abandoning its duty to protect the public from spiritual predators,” he cautioned.

Call for Consistency in Justice

He also raised concerns about selective justice. According to him, leniency should not be extended to prominent figures claiming reform while ordinary citizens face severe punishments for lesser offences.

Anyenini concluded by urging the Attorney-General to act swiftly. He emphasized that appealing the sentence reduction is necessary to reaffirm accountability, ensure consistency in sentencing, and restore public confidence in Ghana’s justice system.

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