Investigative journalist and author Manasseh Azure Awuni has responded to a defamation lawsuit filed against him by Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Limited (SML), describing the legal action as part of a broader campaign against his investigative work.

In a statement issued over the weekend, Manasseh revealed that SML is demanding damages of GHS 21 million over claims made in his book, The President Ghana Never Got, which details various scandals under the Akufo-Addo administration.

The company took issue with his characterization of its deal with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Ministry of Finance as “the biggest scam,” “the SML scandal,” and “shady.” It also objected to his description of its reported savings and services as a “falsehood” and a “lie.”

The lawsuit, signed by Victoria Barth of Sam Okudzeto & Associates, was reportedly filed on November 1, 2024. However, Manasseh stated that he has yet to be officially served, despite being in the United States for a journalism fellowship at Harvard University since August 2024—a fact that is publicly known.

He further alleged that an editor of an online news portal informed him that an individual had attempted to pay for the publication of the lawsuit story, suggesting a possible attempt to tarnish his reputation. The timing of the media reports also coincides with the Special Prosecutor’s announcement of an investigation into former Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta over the SML deal and other corruption-related cases.

Manasseh pointed out that this is not the first legal battle he has faced, stating that he has been sued for defamation 11 times since 2015.