NPP flag and President John Mahama
A political controversy is brewing in Ghana as a Ukrainian public relations agency, Brandcom, has threatened legal action against the New Patriotic Party (NPP), alleging non-payment for services tied to an anti-John Mahama media campaign during the 2024 presidential election.
The NPP, however, has denied any association with the firm, calling the claims “false, baseless, and defamatory.”
Brandcom’s claims: Smear campaign, fake accounts and unpaid fees
In a pre-litigation notice, according to allafrica.com, Brandcom alleges that the NPP contracted the agency to run a coordinated digital campaign aimed at discrediting then-candidate John Dramani Mahama.
The Ukrainian firm claims it managed 430 fake social media accounts, developed 87 memes and infographics mocking Mahama’s flagship “24-hour economy” promise, and produced four videos attacking his record from his previous presidency.
Brandcom says these activities were part of a broader strategy to influence public perception through Ghanaian media platforms and online discourse.
The agency now demands $280,000 in unpaid fees, in addition to penalties for late payment and legal costs.
The notice also threatens the release of alleged evidence of collaboration, including recorded conversations with unnamed NPP representatives.
NPP denies allegations, labels report a smear
In a swift response dated August 3, 2025, the NPP categorically denied ever engaging Brandcom.
The party’s National Communications Directorate dismissed the allegations as entirely fabricated, stating, “The NPP has no contractual relationship (past or present) with any entity known as Brandcom, based in Ukraine or elsewhere.
“The claims contained in the article are completely false, baseless, and defamatory.”
The party further denied ever authorising any foreign agency to engage in unethical digital tactics, insisting that its campaigns have always been grounded in integrity, democratic values, and policy-driven discourse.
Labelling the allegations as a “deliberate attempt to tarnish the image of the party and sow public distrust,” the NPP demanded an immediate retraction and warned of potential legal action against Brandcom and any media outlet that republishes the claims.
Independent investigations raise new questions
Meanwhile, a news report by allafrica.com indicates that independent journalists have been digging into the story.
Preliminary findings suggest that Brandcom, which touts itself as a strategic communications firm with “political experience in Africa,” has had previous media collaborations on the continent.
Its online portfolio allegedly references work with anonymous African political clients.
Analysts are reported to have also traced suspicious digital activity linked to the 2024 elections.
Several of the social media accounts identified as spreading anti-Mahama content had previously shared pro-Ukraine messaging and anti-Russia narratives during the early years of the war in Eastern Europe. This suggests that digital assets from other propaganda campaigns may have been recycled for the Ghanaian political space.
Legal showdown or PR fabrication?
At this point, the situation remains murky. Brandcom has yet to publicly release any verifiable evidence of its alleged dealings with the NPP, and no legal documents beyond the pre-litigation notice have been filed in court, according to a report by allafrica.com.
AM/SEA
Meanwhile, watch as Prophet Worlasi shares bombshell prophesies on Bawumia and NPP on The Lowdown:
