Ghanaian businessman, Ibrahim Mahama has sued the Vice president of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons false and malicious publications that damaged his reputation and that of his company Engineers and Planners’ reputations.
The lawsuit, filed at an Accra High Court, centers on an article titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalize a Gold Mine” published on April 19, 2024 and was shared by Bright Simons on X, where it gained significant traction.
The article got massive online engagement, with over 93,000 views, 250 reactions, 98 reposts, 26 comments, and 109 bookmarks by May 8, and according to the plaintiff it contributed to the widespread dissemination of the allegedly defamatory content against him.
The article allegedly claimed that E&P was facing financial difficulties due to the halted operations at the Damang gold mine, with creditors in an uproar.
It also implied that Ibrahim Mahama was leveraging his brother’s political influence for personal gain and that E&P was unfairly benefiting from government mining policies.
The plaintiffs vehemently deny these claims, calling them “entirely false and wholly without factual basis.”
They argue that the article damaged E&P’s reputation by portraying it as financially unstable, which could harm its relationships with current and potential business partners.
The plaintiffs are seeking general damages for the following reliefs:
• A declaration that the statements made by Bright Simons are defamatory;
• A public retraction and apology published on the same digital platforms and as a full-page ad in the Daily Graphic for six consecutive editions over three months;
• A perpetual injunction barring Simons from making further defamatory remarks;
• General damages amounting to GHS10 million;
• Legal costs and any additional relief the court may deem appropriate.
