Ras Mubarak Sues MTN Ghana for $5 Million Over Service Failure

Former Kumbungu MP and ex-CEO of the National Youth Authority, Abdulai Mohammed Mubarak, also known as Ras Mubarak, has sued MTN Ghana (Scancom PLC) for $5 million. The lawsuit, filed at the High Court in Accra on November 27, 2024, claims MTN failed to provide roaming services during his international business trip.

Mubarak says the issue caused him significant financial and personal losses. He accuses MTN of breaching their contract, damaging his reputation, and causing unnecessary hardship.

What Happened

Mubarak explained in his statement that he had used MTN’s services for over 20 years for business, personal, and family needs. Before his trip in September 2024 to the UAE, Bahrain, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia, he activated MTN’s roaming service. However, when he arrived at his first destination, the service didn’t work.

“I couldn’t make calls, send messages, or use the internet, even though I tried several times,” Mubarak stated in the court documents. He added that MTN didn’t fix the problem despite his complaints, leaving him stranded.

The service failure affected his ability to manage his business and financial transactions, causing him to miss opportunities and forcing him to borrow money to support his family.

Claims and Demands

Mubarak is asking for:

  • $1 million for breach of contract.
  • $4 million for inconvenience, hardship, and damage to his reputation.
  • Interest on the amounts awarded.
  • Compensation for his legal costs, including attorney fees. He also wants the court to declare that MTN’s failure to provide roaming services was a breach of contract.

MTN’s Response

Mubarak’s lawyers sent a demand letter to MTN, after which the company apologised on October 17, 2024, and offered to waive his September bill. However, Mubarak called this response inadequate and said it downplayed the seriousness of his experience.

He claims MTN ignored further attempts to resolve the matter, leaving him no choice but to take legal action. “I believe MTN will continue to dismiss my complaints unless the court orders them to compensate me,” Mubarak said.

Mubarak’s Social Media Statement

After filing the lawsuit, Mubarak shared his reasons on Facebook:
“I sued MTN Ghana for $5 million because they failed to provide the services I paid for. My lawyers gave them enough time to apologise and offer fair compensation, but they didn’t. Big companies should not take customers for granted.”