Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML) has filed a defamation lawsuit against investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni over claims made in his book, The President Ghana Never Got.
The legal action stems from statements in Chapter 28, titled The Mother of All Scandals, as well as allegations made in Manasseh’s documentary, articles, and tweets since December 2023. The lawsuit, filed at the High Court, argues that these publications have severely damaged SML’s reputation.
SML’s legal team contends that the journalist’s reports have led to widespread public criticism and financial setbacks, including the loss of potential contracts in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ivory Coast.
According to court documents, SML entered into an agreement with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on January 1, 2019, to provide transaction audit services and external price verification within Ghana’s customs operations.
The contract was later expanded in April and October 2019 to cover revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector. In October 2023, the Ministry of Finance and the GRA further extended the agreement to include upstream petroleum and minerals revenue audits under a five-year “risk-reward” model.
SML maintains that its services have significantly boosted revenue collection by closing loopholes in the petroleum sector.
The company argues that Manasseh’s characterization of the deal as a “scandal” is misleading and damaging.
The lawsuit accuses the journalist of using terms such as “the biggest scam,” “shady deal,” and “the SML scandal” to describe the company’s contract with the government. SML also claims that Manasseh falsely labelled its contract details as “lies” and “falsehoods,” implying criminal misconduct.
The company asserts that despite granting Manasseh access to its facilities for an in-depth review of its operations, he intentionally misrepresented facts to tarnish its image. It further argues that his reports have fueled public skepticism about SML’s role in the petroleum and mining sectors, causing reputational and financial harm.
As part of its legal demands, SML is seeking GH₵1,000,000 in general damages for defamation and GH₵20,000,000 in exemplary damages for what it describes as malicious reporting.
The company also requests a perpetual injunction preventing Manasseh from making further defamatory statements, along with a public retraction and an apology for the content in Chapter 28 of his book.
