Smarttys threatens to sue media houses over “mischievous” reports

Lawyers for controversial PR firm, Smarttys, are threatening legal action against media houses, who they claim, are “mischievously” associating their client with “a supposed $92m contract under the national electrification project”.

Documents available to Ghana’s parliament suggest that the electrification project set to be undertaken by Chinese company, Hunan Construction and Engineering Group, is being spearheaded by Smarttys.

The PR firm, owned by actress and member of the ruling government Selassie Ibrahim, has recently been in the news for admittedly inflating a bus rebranding contract awarded them by the Transport ministry. They are in the process of paying back the excess monies to government.

In a statement to clarify their involvement with the electrification project, lawyers for Mrs Ibrahim said Smarty’s merely provided PR services to the Chinese company.

“Our attention has been drawn to media reports mischievously associating our clients, Selassie Ibrahim and Smartty’s management and productions Limited with a supposed $92m contract under the national electrification project.

“ Our client dissociate themselves from the execution of an any such contract between the government of Ghana and the other indicated party, China Hunan construction engineering group or any such entity. Our clients are not parties to the contract as reported in sections of the media,” the statement signed by Kissi Agyebeng noted.

It added: “Our clients have, when requested at various times provided merely public relations services for China Hunan construction engineering group. This does not elevate our clients to the status of parties to the contract executed by the government of Ghana.

“Take note that we have the full instructions of our clients to institute legal action against any person and media house that persists in the publication or republication of the clearly defamatory and damaging media report. Indeed, we are filing suit promptly against the Media houses that carried the unfortunate untruth masquerading as a verified story”.