Paul Sinclair, CEO of Sankofa Events Limited
The Africa Prosperity Network (APN), organisers of the annual Africa Prosperity Dialogues (APD), has filed a lawsuit against Sankofa Advisory Group, the organisers of Africa Oil Week (AOW), seeking to recover US$300,000 in unpaid service fees and to clear what it describes as false claims unfairly implicating the government of President John Dramani Mahama.
In its writ, APN accuses Sankofa Advisory and its Chief Executive Officer, Paul Sinclair, of acting in bad faith by abruptly terminating a 10-year partnership agreement and fabricating claims that Ghana’s Presidency pressured the UK-based company to end ties with APN.
APN describes the allegation as a “big lie,” pointing to the consistent support shown by both the previous Akufo-Addo administration and the current Mahama government for its work.
The dispute stems from a 2024 agreement in which APN was engaged to spearhead the relocation of AOW from Cape Town, South Africa, to Accra. The move came after AOW had lost ground to its rival, Africa Energy Week, and faced mounting protests and reputational setbacks in South Africa. APN says it successfully secured endorsements and partnerships—including with the Presidency—that made the relocation possible.
APN cites the 2025 Africa Prosperity Dialogues, held in Accra just weeks after President Mahama assumed office, as proof of strong government backing. That event was attended by President Mahama, Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Energy Minister John Jinapor, and Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga, alongside delegates from 46 countries. Sankofa Advisory was also prominently featured at the event, using it to announce AOW’s relocation to Ghana.
“APN has suffered significant financial losses, reputational harm, and loss of contractual benefits as a result of Sankofa Advisory Group’s conduct,” the writ stated, adding that the termination was “unjustifiable” and an act of “gross bad faith and dishonesty.”
The suit seeks recovery of the US$300,000 owed, interest, an order for Sankofa to account for sponsorship funds introduced by APN, payment of 50% of sponsorship proceeds from such sponsors, damages, and legal costs. APN’s lawyers, Africa Legal Associates (ALA), have also applied for leave of the High Court to serve the writ outside Ghana’s jurisdiction, as Sankofa Advisory is incorporated in England.
By taking legal action, APN is not only pursuing financial redress but also defending the reputation of President Mahama’s administration, which it says has been wrongly implicated in the dispute.
