Ibrahim Mahama sues Bright Simons for defamation, demands GHS10m in damages

Businessman Ibrahim Mahama has filed a defamation lawsuit against Bright Simons, Vice President of IMANI Africa, over what he describes as a series of “false and malicious” publications that have damaged both his personal reputation and that of his company, Engineers and Planners (E&P).

According to court documents filed at an Accra High Court on May 28, Mahama and E&P allege that Simons made defamatory claims in an article titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalise a Gold Mine” published on April 19, 2025, on his personal website, brightsimons.com.

On the same day, Simons shared the article via his official X (formerly Twitter) handle, @BBSimons, where it quickly gained traction. By May 8, the post had amassed more than 93,000 views, 250 reactions, 98 reposts, 26 comments, and 109 bookmarks.

The plaintiffs argue that this engagement contributed significantly to the wide dissemination of the alleged defamatory content.

The article reportedly accused E&P of financial distress due to halted operations at the Damang gold mine and suggested that the company’s creditors were “up in arms.” It also insinuated that Mahama, the brother of President John Mahama, was benefiting improperly from political connections, and that E&P was being unduly favored in government mining policies.

In their suit, the plaintiffs reject these claims outright, describing them as “entirely false and wholly without factual basis.”

They argue the article portrays E&P as financially unstable and undermines the company’s credibility with existing and potential business partners.

The plaintiffs are seeking the following reliefs:

A declaration that the statements made by Bright Simons are defamatory;

A public retraction and apology published on the same digital platforms and as a full-page ad in the Daily Graphic for six consecutive editions over three months;

A perpetual injunction barring Simons from making further defamatory remarks;

General damages amounting to GHS10 million;

Legal costs and any additional relief the court may deem appropriate