By Issah Olegor
Bright Simons, Vice President of the policy think tank IMANI Africa, has vowed to vigorously defend himself in court after Ghanaian businessman Ibrahim Mahama and his firm, Engineers & Planners Company Ltd., filed a defamation lawsuit against him.
The suit, which demands GH¢10 million in damages, stems from a recent article authored by Simons critiquing the government’s handling of the Damang Gold Mine and raising questions about the business dealings of Mahama’s company.
The lawsuit, filed at the Accra High Court on May 28, 2025, follows the publication of Simons’ article titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalise a Gold Mine.”
The piece, released on April 19 via Simons’ personal website and widely circulated on social media, critiques the state’s decision to nationalize the Damang mine and scrutinizes the potential financial and political implications for Engineers & Planners—then a major contractor on the site.
According to the plaintiffs, the article contains defamatory statements that allege improper influence by Mahama in the renewal process of Gold Fields’ mining lease, and that his company stood to benefit from political ties—specifically, his relationship with his brother, President John Mahama.
The suit describes Simons’ language as suggestive of manipulation and influence-peddling, amounting to a calculated attempt to tarnish the company’s reputation.
In their court filings, Mahama and Engineers & Planners argue that the statements implied:
That they were instrumental in blocking the renewal of Gold Fields’ lease.
That the lease process was manipulated to benefit their business.
That Ibrahim Mahama leveraged presidential ties for personal gain.
The plaintiffs assert that the fallout from the article has been significant, damaging their business reputation, undermining trust with creditors and investors, and casting doubt over their integrity in the mining sector.
They are seeking, in addition to financial damages, a series of retractions and public apologies, including six full-page retractions in the Daily Graphic.
Simons, however, has publicly dismissed the lawsuit as an attempt to suppress legitimate public interest journalism.
In a statement released shortly after news of the suit broke, he confirmed receipt of the writ and characterized the legal action as a SLAPP suit—an acronym for Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation.
Such suits, common in jurisdictions like the United States, are often seen as attempts to intimidate critics and deter investigative reporting.
Simons defends his commentary as being grounded in factual analysis and widely available public information.
He argues that it is “basic common sense” to expect financial repercussions when paid services are suspended—referring to Engineers & Planners’ operations at Damang, which were reportedly affected by the mine’s nationalization.
He also maintains that his claims regarding creditors being “up in arms” are not defamatory but rather idiomatic language describing financial pressure and discontent among lenders, especially given the known delays in the repayment of a $68 million loan secured by Engineers & Planners in 2020 to expand its fleet.
Simons further revealed that after publishing his article, he contacted Ibrahim Mahama and offered an opportunity to clarify or challenge any of the points raised.
According to Simons, Mahama declined to provide any documents or details to refute the claims.
In his view, the nationalization of the mine and the continuation of Mahama’s company as a service provider to a state-owned operation places the businessman firmly in the realm of public scrutiny. “That alone,” Simons stated, “makes him a fair target for public interest coverage.”
He emphasized that there is no malice behind his reporting and that the intent has always been to promote accountability in public-private dealings that involve substantial public interest.
“Accountability is a marathon,” Simons noted, adding that the discovery process in court will demonstrate that his article was based entirely on “fact, common sense, and analytical judgment.”
The article in question had attracted widespread attention online, with over 93,000 views on X (formerly Twitter) by early May.
The viral nature of the post, the plaintiffs argue, exacerbated the reputational damage.
Founded in the 1990s, Engineers & Planners has been a prominent player in Ghana’s mining and construction industry.
The company boasts a long record of infrastructure and mining contracts, particularly at the Damang Gold Mine, where it has worked under contract with Abosso Goldfields.
The firm presents itself as a reputable entity with strong ties to financial institutions and government regulators.
Bright Simons, meanwhile, is a recognized thought leader in governance and economic policy.
Through his work at IMANI Africa, he has frequently critiqued public sector decisions, emphasizing transparency and accountability.
