Ghanaian entrepreneur Bright Simons has formally requested businessman Ibrahim Mahama and his company Engineers & Planners (E&P) to admit 38 specific facts in an ongoing High Court case.
The application, filed under Suit No: GJ/0832/2025 at the Superior Court of Judicature in Accra, invokes Order 23 Rule 2(1) of civil procedure, compelling plaintiffs to respond within 14 days.
Simons’ factual requests cover business dealings, political exposure, financial obligations, and regulatory connections. He seeks admission that Ibrahim Mahama, as sole shareholder of E&P and brother of Ghana’s President, qualifies as a politically exposed person. This references Mahama’s 2013 classification as high-risk during engagements with Isle of Man-based Appleby Law Firm for financial compliance purposes.
The facts further concern major mining contracts between E&P and Abosso Goldfields Limited, including a $117 million agreement (2015–2019) and a $300 million contract signed December 2019 extending to 2025. These are presented as among E&P’s largest global revenue sources. Simons additionally alleges E&P’s revenue declined after mining halted at Damang in 2023, leading to loan servicing difficulties with creditors including Stanbic Bank and Ecowas Bank for Investment & Development (EBID). Court documents reference a defaulted $68 million 2020 loan with accrued penalties.
Regulatory connections feature prominently, with Simons requesting admission that former E&P employees Victoria Awuni and Isaac Tandoh hold positions at Ghana’s Minerals Commission. The facts also cite E&P’s interest in acquiring Cardinal Namdini Mines and a $230 million Caterpillar equipment financing deal with Mansour Group.
A critical admission sought clarifies that the term “industry” in Simons’ prior writings encompasses civil society organizations and regulatory bodies like the Minerals Commission, suggesting the case involves public interest commentary on Mahama’s operations.
The outcome could significantly impact debates on political influence in business, financial transparency, and free expression in Ghana. Plaintiffs must respond by mid-June 2025 before substantive hearings proceed.
