A Ukrainian communications agency, Brandcom, has threatened legal action against Ghana’s New Patriotic Party (NPP), demanding a payment of $280,000 for services it claims were used to damage the reputation of presidential candidate John Mahama during the 2024 elections.
In a pre-litigation notice issued by the agency, Brandcom alleges that it was contracted by the then-governing NPP to run an aggressive media campaign targeting Mahama. According to the agency, “The NPP engaged us to execute a coordinated digital strategy to discredit John Mahama’s campaign — and they have not honoured their financial obligations.”
The alleged services included managing 430 fake social media accounts, producing 87 memes and infographics ridiculing Mahama’s flagship “24-hour economy” promise, and creating four videos criticising his first term as president. Brandcom claims this content was pushed across Ghanaia media platforms to shape public perception before the 2024 polls.
After the NPP lost the December 2024 elections and transitioned into opposition, Brandcom says the party failed to make payment. The agency is now demanding the $280,000 fee, plus penalties for late payment and legal costs. It has also threatened to release damaging evidence, including recorded conversations with NPP officials, if the matter is not resolved.
As the story unfolds, investigative journalists have uncovered several red flags that appear to corroborate Brandcom’s claims. Metadata from some of the anti-Mahama campaign materials points to IP addresses in Kyiv, Ukraine — the headquarters of Brandcom. Moreover, many of the fake accounts that attacked Mahama had previously shared pro-Ukraine and anti-Russia content during the war, suggesting that existing propaganda networks were redirected toward Ghanaian politics.
An independent analysis further revealed that Brandcom has advertised its “political experience in Africa” and maintains close ties with journalists on the continent. Experts noted that the meme-heavy tactics used against Mahama mirror strategies seen in prior Brandcom campaigns for Ukrainian clients — particularly the use of multiple fake accounts to amplify divisive content among the youth.
The scandal has raised serious concerns about foreign interference in Ghana’s democratic processes. While Brandcom appears prepared to defend its actions in court, attention is now turning to the NPP, as questions mount over the party’s alleged collaboration with an international disinformation agency and the implications for political transparency in Ghana.
