Your ¢10m lawsuit against Bright Simon’s a bad idea withdraw it – Vormawor tells Ibrahim Mahama

Private legal practitioner and social activist Oliver Barker-Vormawor has advised Ghanaian businessman Ibrahim Mahama. He urged Mahama to withdraw his ¢10 million defamation lawsuit against Bright Simons, the Vice President of IMANI Africa.

Barker-Vormawor believes the lawsuit is a bad idea. He emphasized that it involves not just legality but also optics and politics.

In a post on X, he stated, “I am not Ibrahim Mahama. I may never have that much wealth or perception of wealth in my life. If he listens to advice from broke nobodies, then his lawsuit against Bright Simons was a bad idea.”

He continued, “A well-rounded legal advisor should help check your impulses.” He urged Mahama to withdraw the lawsuit if he values Barker-Vormawor's opinion.

Ibrahim Mahama accused Bright Simons of making “false and malicious” statements that harmed his reputation and that of his company, Engineers and Planners (E&P). The court document referenced an article by Simons titled “Ghana Provides a Lesson in How Not to Nationalise a Gold Mine,” published on April 19, 2025.

The article claimed E&P faced financial distress due to halted operations at the Damang gold mine. It suggested creditors were “up in arms” and implied improper benefits for Ibrahim Mahama from political connections.

Mahama rejected these claims as “entirely false and wholly without factual basis.” His suit includes several demands:

1. A declaration that the statements made by Simons are defamatory.
2. An order for Simons to publish an unqualified retraction and apology.
3. A perpetual injunction against further defamatory publications.
4. General damages of ¢10 million for defamation.
5. Legal costs and any other orders deemed fit by the court.

Bright Simons has stated he will defend his publication vigorously in court. He noted that Mahama filed the suit because he was unhappy with the statements made about E&P’s financial situation.

Simons said, "I mentioned that his company has been 'hit' financially due to suspended operations." He added that some creditors were upset due to financial pressures from the Damang situation.

After reviewing the suit with his lawyers, Simons confirmed they would defend their statements vigorously in court. He expressed no malice towards Ibrahim Mahama but insisted on scrutinizing dealings with public policy implications.