Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has declared his intent to vigorously contest a defamation lawsuit filed by businessman Ibrahim Mahama, describing the legal action as an attempt to suppress public interest scrutiny.
The lawsuit, filed at the Accra High Court by Mahama and his company, Engineers & Planners (E&P), demands GHS10 million in damages. It alleges that Simons published false and malicious statements implying financial distress at E&P and improper political influence tied to the former president’s brother.
However, Simons, known for his outspoken policy commentary, insists his remarks were grounded in facts and public interest. In a detailed response shared on X (formerly Twitter), he accused Mahama of engaging in what he referred to as a SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation)—a type of lawsuit aimed at intimidating critics into silence.
“We consider his lawsuit as intended to deter the most basic coverage of his affairs, even if it touches on public interest,” Simons stated. “The fact that the government has nationalised a mine where he is the prime contractor makes him a fair target for scrutiny.”
Simons’ comments stemmed from his analysis of developments at the Damang Mine, where E&P is a contractor. He highlighted the potential financial impact of a suspension in operations and claimed creditor unrest, describing the situation as an inevitable result of operational halts and delayed repayments.
“It is basic common sense that if a paid service is suspended, there will be financial consequences,” Simons wrote, adding that his statements were idiomatic and based on documented financial activity—including a $68 million loan to E&P.
Simons further revealed that after publishing the original article, he offered Mahama the opportunity to clarify or provide documents, but received no response.
While Mahama and E&P allege the statements were made with malice and have harmed their business standing, Simons maintains that he harbours no personal ill-will. Instead, he framed the dispute as a test of Ghana’s democratic space and the right to hold powerful figures to account.
“As I like to say, accountability is a marathon,” he concluded. “We look forward to using the discovery process in court to demonstrate that every inference was based on fact, common sense, and analysis—not defamation.”
The legal standoff now sets the stage for a potentially high-profile trial at the intersection of media freedom, political influence, and corporate accountability.
