A Plus apologizes to the businessman. Hassan Zein, a businessman, and philanthropist, has received an apology from Kwame Asare Obeng, a former musician from Ghana who is now a politician.
reason why A Plus apologizes to the businessman
On May 14, A Plus posted a message on his official Facebook page addressing the fallout from Zein’s 2022 defamation case, which referenced offensive comments A Plus had made.
According to the court filings, the complaint was centered on A Plus’s alleged disparaging remarks that damaged Zein’s reputation.
“Dear Hassan Abu Zein, I am writing to express my sincerest apologies for any harm caused by my comments about you. It has come to my attention that these comments were based on lies and misinformation spread by Stanley, your jealous friend. He is a dangerous guy. Very!!!
“It may interest you to know that I’ve spent my adult life, fighting for the voiceless, underprivileged persons, especially women and children, and minority groups. However, I must admit that I was misinformed on this particular matter. I am grateful to you for the opportunity to apologize to bring finality to the matter.
“I deeply regret any distress or damage these false statements may have caused you and your reputation. It was never my intention to propagate falsehoods or tarnish your name in any way,” part of A Plus’ post stated.
He continued, “I understand the seriousness of defamation and the impact it can have on individuals and their livelihoods. As a people-centered person, I take full responsibility for my actions and assure you that I will take appropriate measures to rectify this situation.
“Please accept my heartfelt apologies. I am committed to setting the record straight and ensuring that the truth is known. If there is anything I can do to make amends, please do not hesitate to let me know.”
According to the court records, Zein requested several remedies, such as a GH¢10 million general damages award, a declaration of defamation, and an order for A Plus to stop disseminating offensive remarks.
Zein further demanded that A Plus issue a public apology on the same platform where the defamation occurred in seven days.
In addition, he filed for an indefinite injunction to prevent further slander related to his position as an ambassador at large for the International Human Rights Commission.
A Plus, via his attorneys, decided to resolve the matter out of court, which was a fresh twist in the ongoing legal processes in the Accra High Court. As a result, both parties organized a mutually agreeable resolution.
A Plus and Zein reached a settlement on January 22, 2024, which Justice Kwasi Adjenim-Boateng subsequently approved as a consent judgment on January 29, 2024.
As part of the deal, A Plus will remove the derogatory comments and any pictures of Zein from the original publication site. Furthermore, as stated in the court filings, A Plus promised to use the same platform to apologize to Zein publicly and agreed to reimburse Zein for 100,000 in fees.
Credit: Pulse.gh