Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML) has initiated a defamation lawsuit against investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni, seeking GH₵21 million in damages over claims made in his book, The President Ghana Never Got. The lawsuit specifically challenges statements in Chapter 28, titled The Mother of All Scandals, which scrutinizes SML’s contractual agreements with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) and the Government of Ghana (GoG) for revenue assurance services.
Allegations and Legal Claims
Filed in the High Court of Justice in Accra, SML’s suit alleges that Mr. Awuni’s publication portrays the company’s contracts as “the biggest scam,” a “shady deal,” and “the SML scandal.” Additionally, SML claims that the journalist characterized its public statements regarding the contract as “falsehoods” and “a lie,” while describing its agreements as “needless” and “redundant.”
SML, represented by the law firm Sam Okudzeto & Associates, is demanding:
- GH₵1 million in general damages for defamation.
- GH₵20 million in exemplary damages for what it describes as “malicious reporting.”
- A perpetual injunction preventing further defamatory publications.
- A public retraction of the chapter and an official apology.
Background of SML’s Contracts
According to the court documents, SML’s business relationship with the GRA began in January 2019 with a contract to provide Transaction Audit Services and External Price Verification Services for customs operations. The agreement was later expanded in April and October 2019 to cover revenue assurance in Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector.
On October 25, 2023, the contract was further extended under a five-year agreement known as the Contract for the Consolidation of Revenue Assurance Services, covering upstream petroleum and minerals revenue audit. Under this arrangement, SML claims to operate on a ‘Risk-Reward’ model, bearing infrastructure and technology costs while receiving compensation based on increased revenue.
SML asserts that its services have significantly enhanced revenue mobilization in the petroleum sector by eliminating financial leakages. The company argues that Mr. Manasseh Azure’s depiction of its contract as a “scandal” is misleading and damaging its reputation.
Previous Legal Disputes and Alleged Business Impact
This lawsuit is not the first legal battle between the parties. SML previously took legal action against Mr. Azure over what it described as defamatory content in a YouTube documentary aired on December 18, 2023, as well as in various articles and social media posts.
The company claims that Mr. Azure’s reporting has resulted in financial losses, stating that “the onslaught of backlash from the public arising from the Defendant’s publication of Chapter 28 of his book has adversely impacted Plaintiff’s operations by causing Plaintiff to lose potential contracts from Tanzania, Kenya, and Ivory Coast.”
SML further asserts that during Mr. Azure’s investigation, he was granted access to the company’s facilities and given a guided tour of the technology used in its revenue assurance operations. The company maintains that it was transparent in providing information, except where confidentiality was required to protect its business interests.
Manasseh Azure’s Response
Reacting to the lawsuit, Mr. Azure took to his X (formerly Twitter) page today, February 26th stating:
“My lawyers have written to the court and have been served the writ of SML’s GH₵21 million defamation suit against me. They will enter appearance today, and the rest of the processes will continue. I stand by everything I have published on the SML scandal and am ready to defend it in court.” As the case unfolds, it is expected to generate significant public and legal discourse regarding media freedom, investigative journalism, and corporate accountability in Ghana.
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