Investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has responded to legal demands made by the Chief Executive of Engineers & Planners Limited, Ibrahim Mahama.
The businessman who is not happy about part of the Journalist’s latest book “The President Ghana Never Got” is demanding an immediate retraction and an unqualified apology from the journalist.
Pages 98 to 99 of the book claimed that “The Universal Merchant Bank (UMB), formerly stated owned Merchant Bank, generated uproar in 2013 when it was sold to a private equity firm, Fortiz. At the time, FirstRand Bank of South Africa was said to be willing to pay Gh ₵176million for 75% of the Merchant Bank’s shares, while Fortiz offered only Gh ₵90million for the 90% of the shares in the state-owned bank. The controversy deepened when it emerged that a brother of President Mahama, Ibrahim Mahama, was of the big debtors of the then Merchant Bank, which resulted in the bank’s struggles.”
But Ibrahim Mahama, through his Solicitors, denied the allegations and demanded an apology.
“Mr. 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. ”
“We therefore have the instructions of our Client to demand from you an immediate retraction of the publication under reference and an unqualified apology to our Client. Needless to add that should you fail, refuse or neglect to obliged the intimations contained in this letter within 7 days of your receipt of same, we shall proceed to seek legal redress against you without further notice to you.” Part of their letter read.
Responding to this, Manasseh Azure stated that he has forwarded their demands to his lawyers and the matter will be addressed soon
“I have received calls about the news that Ibrahim Mahama has given me seven days to delete pages 89 and 90 of my book because the information is inaccurate. That is not accurate. Mr. Ibrahim Mahama’s lawyers have written to me concerning a paragraph of the book in the chapter on the economy.” The Journalist said.
“That paragraph says Ibrahim Mahama was indebted to Merchant Bank when it was sold in 2013. His lawyers say it was a company owned by Ibrahim Mahama, Engineers and Planners, which owed the bank, not Ibrahim Mahama. I have forwarded their demands to my lawyers and the matter will be addressed soon.” He responded.
Source: Elvisanokyenews.com
