Manasseh Azure Awuni, an investigative journalist, has been charged with defamation by Strategic Mobilization Ghana Ltd. (SML).
The lawsuit is based on allegations made by Mr. Azure Awuni in Chapter 28 of his book “The President Ghana Never Got,” which is headlined “The Mother of All Scandals.”
The High Court case claims that from December 2023, Manasseh has released a number of disparaging materials regarding SML in his articles, tweets, and documentaries.
SML’s attorneys maintain that the journalist’s remarks have harmed the company’s reputation, leading to criticism from the public and the loss of possible contracts in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ivory Coast.
Court filings state that on January 1, 2019, SML signed a contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to supply external price verification and transaction audit services for Ghana’s customs operations.
Later, in April and October 2019, SML’s contract was expanded to include revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum industry. Under a five-year “risk-reward” model, the government further extended the contract in October 2023 to include upstream petroleum and minerals revenue audits through the Ministry of Finance and the GRA.
SML argues that by removing leaks in the petroleum industry, its services have greatly enhanced revenue mobilization. It makes the case that Manasseh’s depiction of the deal as “scandal” is damaging and deceptive.
Awuni is accused by SML of referring to the company’s contract with the government as “the biggest scam,” “the shady deal,” and “the SML scandal.”
The journalist allegedly termed SML’s allegations regarding its contract “falsehoods” and a “lie,” implying criminal activity, according to the lawsuit.
Despite being allowed access to its facilities and given a tour of its revenue assurance operations, the firm claims that Manasseh acted in bad faith.
SML maintains that in order to damage its reputation, Manasseh purposefully falsified facts in his book.
The lawsuit contends that the journalist’s claims have damaged SML’s reputation and cost the company money by fostering public mistrust of the company’s mining and petroleum operations.
Therefore, SML requests that the court grant Mr. Awuni GH₵1,000,000 in general damages for defamation, GH₵20,000,000 in exemplary damages for what it considers malicious reporting, and a permanent injunction prohibiting Manasseh from publishing any more statements that are defamatory about the company.
Additionally, SML requests a public apology and retraction for Chapter 28 of his book.
Source: newsthemegh.com