Strategic Mobilisation Ghana Ltd. (SML) has filed a defamation lawsuit against investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni over claims made in his book “The President Ghana Never Got”, specifically in Chapter 28, “The Mother of All Scandals”. SML alleges that Manasseh published defamatory materials about the company in his documentary, articles, and tweets since December 2023, damaging their reputation and causing public backlash and loss of potential contracts ¹.
The lawsuit claims that Manasseh’s portrayal of SML’s contract with the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) as a “scandal” is misleading and harmful. SML contends that their services have improved revenue mobilization by eliminating leakages in the petroleum sector. They accuse Manasseh of using terms like “the biggest scam”, “shady deal”, and “the SML scandal” to describe the contract, implying criminal wrongdoing.
SML is seeking:
- GH₵1,000,000 in general damages for defamation
- GH₵20,000,000 in exemplary damages for malicious reporting
- A perpetual injunction restraining Manasseh from publishing further defamatory statements
- A public retraction and apology for Chapter 28 of his book
The lawsuit argues that Manasseh’s allegations have fueled public distrust in SML’s operations, causing reputational harm and business losses.
