Ibrahim Mahama’s Lawyers demand Retraction and Apology from Manasseh over Alleged False Claims in New Book

Lawyers representing Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, a prominent Ghanaian businessman and brother of former President John Dramani Mahama, have issued a stern demand for a retraction and apology from investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni. The request follows claims made in Awuni’s latest book, “The President Ghana Never Got,” alleging that Mr. Mahama was a significant debtor of the then-state-owned Merchant Bank, now Universal Merchant Bank (UMB).

In a rejoinder issued by Mr. Mahama’s legal team, the solicitors refute the claims, stating unequivocally that Mr. Mahama has never been personally indebted to Merchant Bank or its successor, UMB Bank. The lawyers assert that the book’s publication has caused significant harm to their client’s reputation, leading to inquiries from business associates, family, and friends about the veracity of the claims.

According to the rejoinder, while Engineers & Planners Company Limited (E&P), a company associated with Mr. Mahama, did receive a loan facility from Merchant Bank, the loan was fully repaid in February 2014. The lawyers emphasize that E&P is a separate legal entity from Mr. Mahama and that he did not personally apply for or receive any facility from the bank.

The statement also reveals that despite the full settlement of the loan, the new management of UMB Bank failed to report the payment to the Credit Bureau Agencies and the Bank of Ghana, leading to continued misinformation regarding the company’s financial status. This omission, the lawyers argue, contributed to the unfounded allegations published by Awuni.

In 2023, Engineers & Planners initiated legal action against UMB Bank, seeking declarations that the debt had been fully paid and that the bank’s publications suggesting otherwise were false. The bank, in its defense, admitted that the debt had indeed been paid and confirmed that it had instructed the Credit Bureau Agencies to update their records accordingly.

Mr. Mahama’s legal team has demanded an immediate retraction of the statements made in the book, along with an unqualified apology to their client. They have given Awuni a seven-day ultimatum to comply with these demands, failing which they will pursue legal action.

The allegations and the subsequent rejoinder have sparked discussions in various circles, with many awaiting Awuni’s response to the legal demands. The development is expected to have broader implications for the ongoing debate about the sale of Merchant Bank and the role of influential figures in its financial challenges.

Full details of the release is published below:

GhanaNewsOnline.com.gh will continue to monitor and provide updates on this developing story.

By Jeorge Wilson Kingson || ghananewsonline.com.gh