SML sues Manasseh Azure for defamation and seeks GHȼ21M in damages

Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML) has taken legal actions against investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni over claims made in his book The President Ghana Never Got, specifically in Chapter 28, titled The Mother of All Scandals.

According to the lawsuit filed in the Accra High Court, Mr. Azure published several defamatory materials about SML in his documentary, articles, and tweets since December 2023. SML claims that his statements have damaged its reputation, resulting in public backlash and loss of potential contracts in Tanzania, Kenya, and Ivory Coast.

The court documents stated that SML entered into a contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) on January 1, 2019, to deliver transaction audit services and external price verification services within Ghana’s customs operations.

Later, the scope of SML’s contract was extended in April and October 2019 to cover revenue assurance in the downstream petroleum sector.

In October 2023, the Ministry of Finance and the GRA, further extended the contract to include upstream petroleum and minerals revenue audits under a five-year “risk-reward” model.

SML argues that its services have significantly improved revenue mobilization by eradicating leakages in the petroleum sector. It claims that Manasseh’s portrayal of the contract as a “scandal” is misleading and harmful.
The company accuses the journalist of using terms such as “the biggest scam,” “shady deal,” and “the SML scandal” to describe the company’s contract with the government.

The suit also quotes instances where the journalist allegedly called SML’s claims about its contract “falsehoods” and a “lie,” implying criminal wrongdoing.

Despite being granted access to its facilities and given a guided tour of its revenue assurance operations, the company asserts that Manasseh acted in bad faith.

The company insists that the journalist deliberately misrepresented facts in his book to tarnish its image.

SML is, therefore, seeking the following:

• GH₵1,000,000 in general damages for defamation.
• GH₵20,000,000 in exemplary damages for what it describes as malicious reporting.
• A perpetual order restricting Mr. Awuni from publishing further defamatory statements about the company.
• A public retraction and apology for Chapter 28 of his book.

The lawsuit argues that Mr. Awuni’s claims have fueled public distrust and cost the company money in the mining and petroleum sector.