Lawyers for Mr. Ibrahim Mahama, a well-known Ghanaian businessman and the brother of former President John Dramani Mahama, have issued a formal request for investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni to retract and apologize for claims made in his recent book, "The President Ghana Never Got."

The book alleges that Mr. Mahama was a significant debtor to the former state-owned Merchant Bank, now known as Universal Merchant Bank (UMB).

In their rebuttal, Mr. Mahama's legal team firmly denies these accusations, stating that he has never been personally indebted to either Merchant Bank or UMB.

They argue that the publication of these claims has damaged Mr. Mahama's reputation, causing concern among his business associates, family, and friends.

The lawyers clarify that while Engineers & Planners Company Limited (E&P), a company linked to Mr. Mahama, did secure a loan from Merchant Bank, this loan was fully repaid in February 2014.

They stress that E&P is a distinct legal entity from Mr. Mahama and that he was not personally involved in securing or repaying the loan.

The legal team also highlights that despite the loan being fully repaid, UMB's new management failed to update Credit Bureau Agencies and the Bank of Ghana about the settlement, leading to continued misinformation about the company's financial standing. This oversight, they argue, has contributed to the false claims made in Awuni's book.

In 2023, E&P filed a lawsuit against UMB Bank, seeking a declaration that the debt had been settled and that the bank's contrary publications were inaccurate.

The bank admitted in its defense that the debt had indeed been paid and that it had instructed the Credit Bureau Agencies to correct their records.

Mr. Mahama's lawyers have given Awuni a seven-day deadline to retract the statements and issue an unconditional apology. If Awuni fails to comply, they plan to take legal action.

The situation has stirred significant public interest, with many eagerly anticipating Awuni's response.

The outcome could have far-reaching consequences, particularly in the ongoing debate surrounding the sale of Merchant Bank and the involvement of influential individuals in its financial difficulties.

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