Investigative journalist, Manasseh Azure Awuni, has denied recent media reports alleging that Ibrahim Mahama, the Chief Executive Officer of Engineers and Planners, has given him a seven-day ultimatum to remove specific pages from his latest book.

The book, The President Ghana Never Got, has stirred controversies over its depiction of the 2013 sale of Merchant Bank, now known as Universal Merchant Bank (UMB), and the alleged involvement of Ibrahim Mahama.

In the book, Azure explained that the sale of Merchant Bank to the private equity firm Fortiz was shrouded in controversy.

He noted that FirstRand Bank of South Africa had offered GH₵176 million for 75% of the bank's shares, while Fortiz acquired 90% for only GH₵90 million.

Azure further wrote that the bank's financial struggles were partly due to significant debts owed by Engineers and Planners, a company owned by Ibrahim Mahama, who is also the brother of former President John Dramani Mahama.

In response to these allegations, there were media reports that Ibrahim Mahama’s lawyers have demanded a retraction and an apology from the journalist, asserting that the claims in the book are false.

However, in a social media post, Manasseh stated, “I have received calls about the news that Ibrahim Mahama has given me seven days to delete pages 89 and 90 of my books because the information is inaccurate.

“That is not accurate. Mr. Ibrahim Mahama's lawyers have written to me concerning a paragraph of the book in the chapter on the economy. That paragraph says Ibrahim Mahama was indebted to Merchant Bank when it was sold in 2013.

“His lawyers say it was a company owned by Ibrahim Mahama, Engineers, and Planners, which owed the bank, not Ibrahim Mahama. I have forwarded their demands to my lawyers and the matter will be addressed soon.”

I have received calls about the news that Ibrahim Mahama has given me seven days to delete pages 89 and 90 of my book because the information is inaccurate. That is not accurate. Mr. Ibrahim Mahama's lawyers have written to me concerning a paragraph of the book in the chapter on…

— Manasseh Azure Awuni (@Manasseh_Azure) August 23, 2024