Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML), has dragged investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni before court for defamation.
The lawsuit follows claims made by Mr. Azure Awuni in his book “The President Ghana Never Got, specifically in Chapter 28, titled The Mother of All Scandals.”
The lawsuit, filed in the High Court, alleges that Manasseh published several defamatory materials about SML in his documentary, articles, and tweets since December 2023.
Lawyers of SML insist the journalist’s statements have damaged its reputation, resulting in public backlash and loss of potential contracts in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ivory Coast.
According to court documents, SML entered into a contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on January 1, 2019, to provide transaction audit services and external price verification services within Ghana’s customs operations.
The scope of SML’s contract was later extended in April and October 2019 to cover revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector. In October 2023, the government, through the Ministry of Finance and the GRA, further expanded the contract to include upstream petroleum and minerals revenue audits under a five-year “risk-reward” model.
SML contends that its services have significantly improved revenue mobilization by eliminating leakages in the petroleum sector. It argues that Manasseh’s portrayal of the contract as a “scandal” is misleading and harmful.
SML accuses Awuni of using terms such as “the biggest scam,” “shady deal,” and “the SML scandal” to describe the company’s contract with the government.
The lawsuit also cites instances where the journalist allegedly called SML’s claims about its contract “falsehoods” and a “lie,” implying criminal wrongdoing.
The company asserts that Manasseh acted in bad faith, despite being granted access to its facilities and given a guided tour of its revenue assurance operations.
SML insists that Manasseh deliberately misrepresented facts in his book to tarnish its image.
The lawsuit argues that the journalist’s allegations have fuelled public distrust in SML’s operations in the petroleum and mining sectors, causing reputational harm and business losses.
Consequently, SML wants the court to order Mr. Awuni to pay GH₵1,000,000 in general damages for defamation:GH₵20,000,000 in exemplary damages for what it describes as malicious reporting as well as a perpetual injunction restraining Manasseh from publishing further defamatory statements about the company.
SML also seek a public retraction and apology for Chapter 28 of his book.