Vice President of IMANI Africa, Bright Simons, has entered an appearance in the high-profile GH¢10 million defamation lawsuit filed against him by businessman Ibrahim Mahama at the Accra High Court, setting the scene for a real battle.

In a strategic legal manoeuvre, Mr Simons has filed a comprehensive motion demanding that Mr Mahama and his company, Engineers & Planners (E&P), formally admit to 38 distinct facts central to their ongoing legal dispute.

The detailed motion filed at the High Court aims to establish critical background on Mr. Mahama’s extensive business operations, his significant political connections, and intricate financial interests, particularly within Ghana's lucrative mining sector.

Mr Simons' legal team has granted the plaintiffs a 14-day window to respond to these assertions, which span a wide array of topics from Mr. Mahama's designation as a politically exposed person (PEP) to highly specific financial and contractual relationships involving E&P.

Among the key admissions sought by Mr Simons is the acknowledgement that Ibrahim Mahama serves as the sole shareholder of Engineers & Planners.

The motion also highlights his direct familial link to the highest office, identifying him as the brother of President John Dramani Mahama.

Furthermore, it points to his classification as a "high-risk politically exposed person" by the offshore legal firm Appleby in a 2013 transaction concerning the registration of Red Sky Aviation in the Isle of Man, a detail that could carry weight in the court's assessment of his public standing.

A significant portion of the motion focuses on E&P's contracts with Abosso Goldfields Limited.

Mr Simons is pressing the court to compel an admission that these contracts, valued at an estimated $117 million between 2015 and 2019, and a staggering $300 million from 2020 to 2025, represent some of E&P's largest revenue streams both domestically and globally.

The motion specifically claims that income derived solely from the Damang Gold Mine is projected to constitute at least 25% of the company’s total mining revenue over the past decade.

The legal document further alleges that E&P has ceased receiving payments from Abosso Goldfields since mining operations at Damang were suspended in 2023.

Consequently, Mr Simons posits that E&P has engaged in critical discussions with various financial institutions, including Stanbic Ghana, regarding loan servicing challenges.

The motion asserts that E&P has secured loans exceeding $50 million from Stanbic and entered into a $230 million equipment financing agreement with the Mansour Group, primarily for Caterpillar machinery.

Other crucial admissions being sought include E&P's unsuccessful bid to acquire Cardinal Namdini Mines in Bolgatanga, the company's current efforts to secure financing for additional mining assets, and the notable employment of former E&P personnel in senior leadership roles within the Minerals Commission, Ghana's primary mining regulatory body.

This extensive demand for admissions forms part of Mr Simons’ defence against the defamation suit initiated by Ibrahim Mahama.

The businessman alleges that a series of "false and malicious" publications by the IMANI Africa Vice President have severely damaged both his personal reputation and the corporate image of Engineers & Planners.

The outcome of this motion could significantly shape the trajectory and ultimate verdict of this high-profile legal battle.

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