Businessman Ibrahim Mahama, brother of former President John Dramani Mahama, and his company, Engineers & Planners (E&P), have filed a defamation lawsuit against policy analyst Bright Simons over statements made in a recent article.

The article in question, titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalise a Gold Mine”, was published on Saturday, April 19, 2025, on Simons’ personal website. In it, Simons critiques Ghana's handling of the Damang gold mine and makes several claims involving E&P.

Among the key assertions, Simons described Engineers & Planners as “a powerful operator owned by the brother of Ghana’s President” and alleged that the company suffered financially following a temporary suspension of operations by mining giant Gold Fields. He also questioned the extent of E&P’s influence on the Minerals Commission, raising concerns about political interference and conflicts of interest.

In response, Ibrahim Mahama and his company argue that the statements are false, damaging, and defamatory. The lawsuit, filed in Accra, seeks GH¢10 million in damages, along with other forms of relief to repair reputational harm.

The case has drawn attention given the high-profile individuals involved and its potential implications for media freedom and corporate-political relationships in Ghana.

Neither Bright Simons nor IMANI Africa, where he serves as a Vice President, has publicly responded to the lawsuit as of the time of this report.

Below are the full claims in Ibrahim Mahama and his company:

a. A declaration that the statements made by the Defendant, which have been particularised in paragraphs 14(a) and (b) of the statement of claim, are defamatory of the Plaintiffs;

b. An order directed at the Defendant to publish, on the same platforms that he published the defamatory words, as well as a full page of the Daily Graphic newspaper, on six consecutive occasions over a 3-month period, an unqualified retraction and an apology to the Plaintiffs;

c. An order for a perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant, his agents, assigns, and servants from further publishing any defamatory words against the Plaintiffs;

d. General damages of Ten Million Ghana Cedis (GH¢10,000,000.00) for defamation;

e. Costs, including legal fees; and

f. Any other order(s) as this Honourable Court may deem fit.

Meanwhile, the High Court in Accra has ordered Bright Simons, a vice president of IMANI Africa, to file his defence in the defamation suit filed against him by business mogul Ibrahim Mahama.

Court documents sighted by GhanaWeb showed that the IMANI Africa vice president had been commanded to file his defence within 8 days of service.

The court said that if Bright Simons fails to enter his defence within the stipulated time, it will give its judgment on the matter without hearing from him.

“AN ACTION having been commenced against you by the issue of this Writ by the above-named Plaintiff: IBRAHIM MAHAMA & ENGINEERS & PLANNERS COMPANY LTD.

“YOU ARE HEREBY COMMANDED that within EIGHT DAYS after service of this Writ on you, inclusive of the day of service, you do cause an appearance to be entered for you: BRIGHT SIMONS.

“AND TAKE NOTICE that in default of your so doing, judgment may be given in your absence without further notice to you,” parts of the court document, which was issued by the Acting Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie on May 28, 2025, read.

See the court document below: