Ibrahim Mahama, businessman has initiated a defamation lawsuit against Bright Simons, Vice President of policy think tank IMANI Africa, following the publication and widespread circulation of content he claims has severely tarnished his reputation and that of his company, Engineers and Planners (E&P).
Filed at the Accra High Court on Tuesday, May 28, 2025, the lawsuit stems from a publication authored by Mr. Simons and posted on his personal website on April 19, 2025. The article, titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalise a Gold Mine,” also appeared on Mr. Simons’ verified X (formerly Twitter) account, @BBSimons, on the same day.
According to the plaintiffs, the online traction generated by the post significantly amplified its reach. Court documents indicate that as of May 8, 2025, the tweet sharing the article had received over 93,000 views, along with 250 reactions, 98 reposts, 26 comments, and 109 bookmarks—metrics cited in the filing as evidence of the publication’s wide circulation and potential impact.
Mr. Mahama and E&P contend that the article contains several damaging and unsubstantiated claims. Chief among them is an assertion that Engineers and Planners was in financial difficulty due to the suspension of operations at the Damang gold mine, with creditors allegedly pressuring the company over unresolved obligations.
The publication is also said to have suggested that Ibrahim Mahama was benefiting from political favoritism, due to his familial relationship with former President John Dramani Mahama, and that his company enjoyed preferential treatment under current government mining policies.
In the legal complaint, the plaintiffs describe the statements as “false, malicious, and entirely unfounded.” They argue that the article paints a misleading picture of E&P’s financial health and integrity, with potentially damaging effects on its credibility within the business and investment community.
The court documents further state that the article’s portrayal could undermine the confidence of both existing partners and prospective investors in the company’s operations, thereby threatening its commercial standing.
Mr. Mahama and E&P are seeking redress through the court for what they consider reputational harm caused by the article’s content and the manner in which it was disseminated.
The plaintiffs are seeking the following reliefs:
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A declaration that the statements made by Bright Simons are defamatory;
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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;
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A perpetual injunction barring Simons from making further defamatory remarks;
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General damages amounting to GHS10 million;
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Legal costs and any additional relief the court may deem appropriate.
