Business mogul Ibrahim Mahama and his company, Engineers & Planners (E&P), are threatening legal action against prominent policy analyst and IMANI Africa Vice President, Bright Simons, following the publication of an article they describe as defamatory and damaging to their reputation.
The April 19 piece, titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalise a Gold Mine” and published on Simons’ personal website, alleges E&P may have benefitted from government policy shifts relating to the Damang gold mine. The article suggests that the company, owned by the brother of Ghana’s President, may be influencing decisions at the Minerals Commission (MinComm) and raising concerns among creditors due to halted operations at Damang.
In a strongly worded letter from the Robert Smith Law Group, solicitors for Ibrahim Mahama and E&P categorically denied the claims, branding them as “wholly false, malicious, and defamatory.” The legal team demanded a full retraction and an unqualified apology within seven days or face legal consequences.
The lawyers assert that E&P is an independently managed commercial entity and reject any implication that it has exerted political influence on MinComm or played a role in the government’s decision not to renew Gold Fields’ lease at the Damang site. They argue that the article undermines their clients’ reputation and may deter potential business partnerships and financing opportunities.
Furthermore, the legal team criticized Simons for making what they termed “speculative and irresponsible” comments about alleged biases among MinComm officials with past ties to either E&P or Gold Fields.
Bright Simons has yet to respond publicly to the threat of legal action.
