Lawyers representing businessman Ibrahim Mahama and his company, Engineers & Planners (E&P), have issued a formal demand to policy analyst and IMANI Africa Vice President, Bright Simons, calling for an immediate retraction and apology over what they describe as defamatory statements made in a recent article.
The piece, titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalise a Gold Mine”, was published on Simons’ personal website on Saturday, April 19, 2025.
The article discusses Ghana’s management of the Damang gold mine and includes claims that E&P, described as “a powerful operator owned by the brother of Ghana’s President”, suffered financially following a temporary shutdown of operations by Gold Fields.
Simons also raised concerns about E&P’s alleged influence on the Minerals Commission, suggesting potential conflicts of interest and political interference.
In a letter issued by the Robert Smith Law Group, legal representatives for Mahama and E&P refuted the claims, which were described in the letter, sighted by GhanaWeb Business, as “wholly false, malicious, and defamatory.”
The lawyers warned that the statements could damage E&P’s reputation, harm its business prospects, and undermine trust among current and potential partners.
“Such unfounded publications, especially from a public commentator of your stature, have the tendency to injure the hard-earned reputation of E&P,” the letter stated.
The legal team emphasised that E&P operates as an independent legal entity with no political affiliations and is guided strictly by commercial and operational objectives.
They also rejected any suggestion that the company played a role in the government’s decision not to renew Gold Fields’ lease at Damang, or in shaping mining policies that favor local contractors.
The article’s insinuation that some Minerals Commission officials may show bias due to past affiliations with E&P or Gold Fields was also dismissed as speculative and irresponsible.
Simons has been given seven days to retract the article and issue what the lawyers describe as an “unqualified apology.”
Failing that, they say legal proceedings will commence without further notice.
As of now, Bright Simons has not publicly responded to the legal demand.
SP/MA
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