Business mogul and Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners Company Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, has filed a defamation suit against the Vice President of IMANI Africa, Mr. Bright Simons, seeking GH₵10 million in damages, a public apology, and a court injunction against further defamatory publications.
The lawsuit, filed jointly by Mr. Mahama and his company, Engineers and Planners Co. LTD (E&P), stems from what the plaintiffs describe as false and malicious statements published by Mr. Simons on his personal website and social media platforms. The statements, according to the plaintiffs, have caused significant reputational damage and pose a threat to ongoing and future business relationships.
In the suit, Engineers and Planners, described as a well-established mining and construction company operating across Ghana and the West African sub-region, emphasizes its impeccable 7 record in executing major infrastructure and mining projects. The company is currently the primary contractor for Abosso Goldfields Limited’s Damang Gold Mine, where it claims to consistently exceed production targets while upholding the highest safety standards.
The core of the complaint revolves around an article published by Mr. Bright Simons on April 19, 2025, titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalise a Gold Mine,” which appeared on his personal website, brightsimons.com. The same day, Mr. Simons shared a link to the article on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @BBSimons. As of May 8, the post had amassed over 93,000 views, 250 reactions, 98 reposts, 26 comments, and 109 bookmarks—indicating widespread public exposure.
According to the plaintiffs, the article and its accompanying social media post contained several false and defamatory statements. These, they argue, created the impression that:
1.The plaintiffs were directly responsible for the Government of Ghana’s decision not to renew Gold Fields’ mining lease for the Damang mine.
2.They undermined Gold Fields’ chances of securing a lease renewal.
3. Mr. Mahama, the 1st plaintiff, leveraged his familial relationship with former President John Dramani Mahama to gain unfair business advantages and engage in unethical practices.
The plaintiffs further describe these assertions as malicious innuendos intended to tarnish their reputations, erode public confidence, and diminish their credibility among partners, financiers, and the general public.
The plaintiffs assert that the publication has caused them severe reputational harm, with consequences including anxiety among business partners, diminished creditworthiness, and potential disruptions to ongoing operations. They emphasize that their business has operated lawfully and diligently since the 1990s, contributing to employment and socioeconomic development in multiple jurisdictions.
Despite a formal demand made through their solicitors on April 22, 2025, requesting a retraction and unqualified apology, the plaintiffs say Mr. Simons has failed to comply.
The plaintiffs are therefore seeking the following from the court:
1. A declaration that the statements made by Mr. Simons are defamatory;
2. An order compelling the defendant to publish retractions and apologies on the same platforms used, as well as on six consecutive occasions in the Daily Graphic newspaper over three months;
3. A perpetual injunction preventing Mr. Simons and his associates from publishing further defamatory content;
4. General damages amounting to GH₵10,000,000 for defamation;
4. Legal costs and any additional orders the court may consider appropriate.