Stratcon Energy and Trading Company Limited, alongside its Chief Executive Officer, Harry Campbell, has dragged Bright Simons, a Vice President of IMANI Africa, to court.
Stratcon Energy are demanding GH¢22 million in general damages in the lawsuit against Bright Simons.
The plaintiffs, Stratcon Energy, described Bright Simons’ searing social media post as false, malicious, reckless and defamatory publications.
Stratcon Energy’s, GH¢22million defamation suit was filed on Tuesday, July 23, 2025 and sought to prevent Mr Simons from making further defamatory statements against Stratcon and its CEO.
The court documents revealed that the lawsuit revolves around a series of posts made by Bright Simons on his X page.
According to the plaintiffs, the posts contain defamatory remarks that question Campbell’s qualifications and credibility.
Part of the writ stated, “There have been reports that Harry Campbell of Stratcon was somehow ‘imposed’ on the emergency fuel supply system. I recall that when Harry Campbell tried to break into Liberia, analysts there quickly established that he was exaggerating his standing in Ghana. The question is: how did he come into the equation in the first place?”
Stratcon Energy also cited that on January 8, 2025, Simons raised an alarm about the management of fuel reserves and alleged political interference in emergency energy supply.
According to them, Simons’ remarks have negatively impacted Stratcon’s business prospects and relationships.
They are urging the Accra High Court to compel Bright Simons to publicly retract the allegations.
Stratcon Energy and CEO Harry Campbell are seeking GH¢20 million in general damages. They are also demanding an additional GH¢2 million in punitive damages.
Bright Simons, in his social media post, stated, “It was quite surprising that the claim that Ghana only has enough fuel for its power plants for less than a week was made in off-the-cuff remarks in an unplanned interview by an NDC govt transition team member.
Important information like that, when delivered in random snippets, makes analysts and the public alike more confused than informed.
The suggestion that this was a deliberate act of ‘sabotage’ by the outgoing government feeds tabloid sensations. Usually, the more critical policy issues go beyond the sensational. Problems in Ghana don’t get fixed because the structural policy issues are constantly ignored. Either PR dazzles the public, or tabloid sensationalism distracts them”.
He added, “The real policy issues here are as follows: The liquid fuels are an emergency substitute for gas, which is supposed to be the main fuel for thermal power plants in Ghana.
Where is the country with fixing the gas supply issues? Why have the problems been prolonged? What solutions are favoured by the new govt? More urgently: what are the security of supply arrangements for the emergency liquid fuels?
Are there contracts? With whom? Are there penalties for non-performance to protect national interests?
There have been reports that Harry Campbell of Stratcon was somehow ‘imposed’ on the emergency fuel supply system.
That without tender or any meritorious process, suppliers of lower standing in the industry have been forced on the system. What is the full context of these reports?”.
Bright Simon further recounted, “I recall that when Harry Campbell tried to break into Liberia, analysts there quickly established that he was exaggerating his standing in Ghana.
The question is: how did he come into the equation in the first place?
MOST IMPORTANT OF ALL, what are the steps the new govt plans to take to fix the gas supply issues and, whilst doing that, ensure that the emergency liquid-fuel supply program isn’t ‘captured’ by any individual or politically connected supplier, thus ensuring reliability?
For political communication to change for the better in Ghana, for policy focus to be restored, the public would need to change its appetites.
The public needs to become more demanding, more curious about root causes, and more resistant to spin, PR, and surface filla.”
See the writ of summons below:
