Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni
Prominent Ghanaian businessman, Ibrahim Mahama, has issued a stern legal warning to investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, over claims made in his latest book, "The President Ghana Never Got."
In the book, Awuni alleged that Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of former President John Dramani Mahama, was one of the major debtors of the now-defunct Merchant Bank, a claim that has since been strongly contested.
According to a letter from Ibrahim Mahama’s legal counsel, Bobby Banson Esq., the businessman has never been personally indebted to Merchant Bank or its successor, UMB Bank.
Instead, the letter clarifies that the loan in question was taken out by Engineers & Planners Company Limited, a separate legal entity from Mahama, and that the full loan amount of $28 million was paid off in February 2014.
The letter also highlights that despite this repayment, the new management of Merchant Bank (later UMB Bank) failed to report the settlement to the Credit Bureau Agencies and the Bank of Ghana.
This led Engineers & Planners to file a court action against UMB Bank in 2023, seeking declarations that the debt had been fully paid and that the bank’s claims of indebtedness were false.
“Ibrahim Mahama has never been indebted to Merchant Bank or its successor, UMB Bank. Indeed, our Client has never applied for or received any facility from the said Bank in his personal capacity or for his personal use.
“Engineers & Planners Company Limited, which is a separate legal entity from our Client, applied for and received a loan facility from Merchant Bank. In February 2014, the amount of $28million was paid by Engineers and Planners Company Ltd to Merchant Bank, in full and final settlement of the loan amount. A copy of the correspondence from Merchant Bank to this effect is attached as Annexure,” portions of the letter said.
UMB Bank has since admitted in its Statement of Defence that the debt was indeed paid in full and has instructed Credit Bureau Agencies to correct their records accordingly.
Ibrahim Mahama, through his legal counsel, has demanded an immediate retraction and unqualified apology from Manasseh Azure Awuni, citing that the publication has tarnished his reputation as an honest businessman.
The letter warns that failure to comply with these demands within seven days will result in legal action against Manasseh Azure.
Below is the statement:
NAY/AE
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