Springfield Energy sues New Statesman, others for GH¢30m

The management of Springfield Energy, a petroleum company in Ghana with business interests in Nigeria, has sued a number of newspapers for engaging in publications that potentially tarnishes its image.

The company cites The New Statesman, The Al-Hajj, Herald and The Republic newspapers as having published falsehoods that not only tarnished its image but also impugned the integrity of its Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Okyere.

Beside the lawsuit which emanates from claims linking the company to allegations of impropriety in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, the company said it “will robustly defend” its reputation against any media or persons who will attempt to tarnish it.

“For nearly a decade, we have worked with reputable companies such as Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), National Petroleum Authority (NPA) and Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) within the Gulf of Guinea and internationally, BP, Total, Chevron, Glencore, Aker Solutions, etc. In all these dealings, we have abided by all industry regulations and successfully met all our financial obligations to these partners.

“Our Chief Executive, Kevin Okyere, continues to enjoy his reputation as one of the youngest industry CEO’s around the world. We state categorically that these published rumours are false, baseless and calculated to do untold harm to our business interests and undermine our hard-won reputation. We will continue to play our part in the development of the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Guinea to the benefit of our people.

“We have instructed our lawyers to file law suits against The New Statesman, The Al-Hajj, Herald and The Republic for participating in the publication of falsehood against our CEO, Kevin Okyere and our company relating to our businesses in Ghana and Nigeria. We would like to use this opportunity to thank those media houses who have asked for our own side of the story before publishing,” the company said in the statement signed by Head of Human Resource & Public Affairs, George Ayebah for and on behalf of Management. Click to read writ of summons.