Sankofa Events Limited and Paul Sinclair have been added to a court case brought by the African Energy Chamber to the High Court of the Republic of South Africa against Hyve Events SA Limited.
The Edictal Citation application was granted, where Sankofa Events and Paul Sinclair will be joined in an action for damages arising from misrepresentation, unlawful completion and false marketing.
This serves as an official legal notice for the respondents, as the court believes there is a strong case for misrepresentation – a serious allegation and one that brings significant impacts for the African energy industry.
Sankofa Events Limited and Paul Sinclair have been added to the case for their role in providing allegedly false statements and misleading information regarding the upcoming Africa Oil Week (AOW): Energy conference.
The event, which has moved to Accra, Ghana for its 31st edition, has been the product of numerous misleading statements, press releases and communications, particularly surrounding its participants and the topics of discussion.
“A notable example is information published by AOW: Energy’s official communication channels related to the participation by Equatorial Guinea’s state-owned oil corporation GEPetrol. The information shared outlined references to technical presentations, one-on-one meetings, and the promotion of new licenses by the corporation,” said AEC. “Information was not provided, authorised or validated by GEPetrol. This level of misrepresentation is aimed at enticing delegates to participate and is not an accurate reflection of the event itself.”
As such, the AEC is suing Sankofa Events Limited and Paul Sinclair in Ghana from South Africa, for damages.
Sankofa Events Limited and Paul Sinclair are granted 30 days from the date of service in their country to enter an appearance to oppose the joinder application.
Yet, organisations such as Sankofa Events Limited and individuals such as Paul Sinclair use platforms such as AOW: Energy to advance their own agendas, AEC claimed in a recent statement.
“The court case brought by the AEC seeks to make Sankofa Events Limited and Paul Sinclair accountable for their actions. Africa deserves more than organisations and individuals who prioritise their own wants over the need of the continent. The AEC stands in full support of the continent and will remain committed to protecting the interests of its people,” said NJ Ayuk, the executive chairman of the AEC.
