Ibrahim Mahama Sues IMANI’s Bright Simons for GHS10 Million Over Defamation Claims

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ACCRA | May 28, 2025 — Business magnate Ibrahim Mahama has filed a defamation lawsuit against Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, over what he describes as false and malicious publications that have allegedly tarnished his reputation and that of his engineering firm, Engineers and Planners (E&P).

The suit, filed at the Accra High Court on Tuesday, May 28, stems from an article authored by Simons titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalise a Gold Mine,” which was published on April 19, 2025 on his website brightsimons.com, and shared on his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @BBSimons.

According to the plaintiffs, the article falsely portrayed E&P as a company in financial crisis, accusing it of being in distress due to suspended operations at the Damang gold mine, and of facing backlash from creditors. Simons also allegedly insinuated that Ibrahim Mahama—brother to President John Dramani Mahama—was benefiting improperly from political favoritism in the mining sector.

The suit claims these allegations are “entirely false and wholly without factual basis,” and that they have caused significant reputational harm to both the businessman and his company, particularly among investors and stakeholders.

Reliefs Sought by Ibrahim Mahama and E&P

The plaintiffs are demanding the following from the court:

A declaration that Bright Simons’ statements are defamatory.
A public retraction and apology to be published on all platforms where the original article appeared, including a full-page ad in the Daily Graphic for six consecutive editions over three months.
A perpetual injunction restraining Simons from publishing any further defamatory statements.
General damages of GHS10 million.
Legal costs and any other relief the court may deem fit.

The article in question gained significant online traction, amassing over 93,000 views, along with numerous shares and engagements by early May, which the suit argues further amplified its damaging effects.

This legal challenge comes amid growing tension between political actors, media, and civil society in Ghana, especially as the country moves deeper into the implementation phase of controversial mining policies and the national 24-Hour Economy agenda.

Bright Simons has not yet issued a formal response to the lawsuit.

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