Strategic Mobilization Limited (SML) has sued ace Investigative Journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni and the Fourth Estate for defamation following the airing of the “GH¢3 billion lie report.”
The report titled “The GHS 3 Billion Lie & The Billion-dollar contract,” was published on December 18, 2023.
The company in a suit filed on February 15, 2024 is demanding GHS 10 million in damages.
“Plaintiff says that the onslaught of backlash from the public which has arisen from the Defendants’ false reportage has adversely impacted Plaintiff’s operations.
“Plaintiff says that although it published rejoinders to the Defendants’ false reportage, the Defendants have failed and/or refused to retract and apologise to the plaintiff for the false information they have consistently peddled,” portions of the statement of Claim stated.
Per the Fourth Estate’s report it alleged that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) granted SML a purported 10-year contract with an annual payment of $100 million.
Following the report, President Nana Akufo-Addo has directed audit firm KPMG to conduct audit into ascertaining the veracity of the report.
The Plaintiff claims against the Defendants (Fourth Estate and Manasseh) jointly and severally as follows:
a) General damages of GH₵1,000,000.00 for defamation.
b) Exemplary damages of GH₵9,000,000.00 for the reckless and malicious report by the Defendants.
c) Perpetual injunction restraining the Defendants from publishing any further defamatory material about the Plaintiff.
d) A retraction and apology by the Defendants with the same coverage, means and prominence with which the false information was published.
e) Any other orders that this Honourable Court may deem fit.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Murtala Inusah