Manasseh Azure Awuni Issues Apology to Ibrahim Mahama Over Claims Made in His Book, “The President Ghana Never Got”

Renowned investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has issued a public retraction and apology to businessman Ibrahim Mahama, CEO of Engineers and Planners Company Limited, over claims made in his latest book, “The President Ghana Never Got.”

In the book, Awuni discussed the banking crisis under the Akufo-Addo administration, specifically mentioning the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of Universal Merchant Bank (UMB) in 2013. He erroneously stated that Ibrahim Mahama was personally indebted to the erstwhile Merchant Bank, contributing to its financial troubles.

However, it has been clarified that the $28 million debt was owed by Engineers and Planners Company Limited, not Ibrahim Mahama personally. This correction was brought to Awuni’s attention by Mahama’s legal team, leading to the retraction and apology.

Background

The controversy began when Awuni’s book highlighted the financial difficulties faced by Merchant Bank, now UMB, and attributed part of the bank’s struggles to a significant debt allegedly owed by Ibrahim Mahama. This claim was strongly contested by Mahama, who asserted that the debt was incurred by his company, Engineers and Planners, and not by him personally.

In response to these allegations, Mahama’s legal counsel, Bobby Banson Esq., demanded a retraction and an apology, emphasizing that the loan was fully repaid by Engineers and Planners in February 2014. Despite this repayment, the new management of Merchant Bank failed to report the settlement to the Credit Bureau Agencies and the Bank of Ghana, leading to further legal actions by Engineers and Planners against UMB in 2023⁴.

Retraction and Apology

In his retraction statement, Awuni acknowledged the oversight and expressed regret for any adverse effects caused by the publication. He committed to correcting the error in the online version of his book and in future reprints.

“I retract the said reference to Ibrahim Mahama as the debtor and apologize for any adverse effect that may have been occasioned by said publication. It was a genuine oversight, which I am taking immediate steps to correct,” Awuni stated.