Accra, Ghana//-Hubtel Limited, a leading fintech firm in Ghana, is demanding a retraction and apology from Media General, owners and operators of Onua TV, for allegations by its Onua Maakye host, Godsbrain Kwadwo Smart, aka Captain Smart, that $25 million was transferred from ECG Ghana’s account into Hubtel’s account and was withdrawn for NPP electioneering campaign.
A letter from lawyers of Hubtel, Beyuo and Co, dated November 26, 2024, addressed to Media General and Captain Smart, said: “Our client maintains that not only are the said statements by Captain Smart false, but also, they were maliciously published by him without any knowledge or evidence that they are true.”
Captain Smart made the said allegations on November 21, 2024, on the Onua Maakye show on Onua TV. Clips of the show were subsequently carried by some vloggers on their social media channels.
In his allegation, Captain Smart said the sitting government initially asked the former ECG Ghana Managing Director, Samuel Dubik Mahama, to transfer the said amount to support Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s campaign, but Mr Mahama refused, and that led to his removal from office.
He further alleged that the sack of Samuel Dubik Mahama cleared the way for the US$25 million to be transferred from the ECG Ghana account into the Hubtel account and was then cashed out and used for Dr Bawumia’s campaign.
He, however, did not provide his audience with any evidence of the allegations.
Captain Smart also posed a rhetorical question to his audience about the ownership of Hubtel, saying, “Ask Dr. Bawumia who owns Hubtel.”
In their letter to Media General and Captain Smart, the solicitors for Hubtel said, “Our client categorically denies the allegations made by Captain Smart…particularly that an amount of US$25 million was transferred from ECG’s account into our client’s account and that these funds were withdrawn by our client for the use of His Excellency Dr Mahamudu Bawumia…for political campaign.”
The letter also stated that contrary to suggestions by Captain Smart and others before him, Dr Bawumia has no legal and beneficial interest in Hubtel Limited.
“The said statements are defamatory in nature and were calculated to cause and did cause serious and irreparable damage to our client’s reputation and in the eyes of the right-thinking members of society,” the letter said.
It explained that the allegations by Captain Smart suggest to any reasonable, fair-minded and prudent person that:
- Hubtel is corrupt, and it engages in criminal activity in the embezzlement, misappropriation and diversion of public funds
- Hubtel has aided and abetted public officials to embezzle, misappropriate and divert public funds
- Hubtel has assisted Dr Bawumia in diverting public funds for his political campaign ahead of the 2024 elections.
It further argued that the allegations were published with the intent and calculated to damage the reputation of Hubtel unjustifiably.
Hubtel is therefore demanding a public retraction and apology from Captain Smart and Media General via the same channel the false allegations were made. They want the retraction to be done within seven days of receiving the letter.
The company is also demanding a written apology within three days of receiving the letter, and they want the apology letter to also be archived on Media General’s website so that it can easily be accessible by members of society.
The wording of the apology letter, according to them, must be agreed upon by the two parties before publication online.
Per the letter, if Media General and Captain Smart fail to comply, they risk a lawsuit.
From Samuel Dowuona
