Ghanaian musician and politician Kwame Asare Obeng, known as A Plus, has issued an apology to businessman Hassan Zein.
This development follows a defamation lawsuit that Zein filed in 2021, which cited harmful comments made by A Plus.
The legal battle revolved around statements by A Plus that negatively affected Zein’s reputation. The apology, made public on A Plus’s Facebook page on May 14, reads:
“Dear Hassan Abu Zein, I am writing to express my sincerest apologies for any harm caused by my comments made 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,” A Plus’ post read in part.
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.”
Court records show that Zein sought a range of remedies, including a declaration of defamation, general damages of GH¢10 million, and a directive for A Plus to withdraw the defamatory comments using the same medium they were disseminated.
Zein also demanded a public apology from A Plus within seven days on the same platform where the defamation took place, along with a perpetual injunction to stop further defamation against his reputation as the International Human Rights Commission Ambassador at large.
The case, initially proceeding in the High Court of Accra, shifted direction when A Plus, through his legal representation, chose to settle out of court, leading to a mutually agreeable resolution.
On January 22, 2024, A Plus and Zein reached a settlement agreement, which Justice Kwasi Adjenim-Boateng endorsed as a consent judgment on January 29, 2024.
The settlement terms required A Plus to retract the defamatory statements and remove Zein’s image from the original publication platform. Additionally, A Plus agreed to issue a public apology to Zein via the same medium and to pay GH¢100,000 in costs to Zein, as detailed in the court documents.
Background
In December 2021, Kwame Asare Obeng, popularly known as A Plus, made certain statements on Facebook that were deemed defamatory towards businessman Hassan Zein.
These comments led to a legal dispute, with Zein filing a defamation lawsuit against A Plus. The case centred on A Plus’s remarks, which were said to have damaged Zein’s reputation.
For a detailed view of the comments and subsequent remarks made by A Plus, readers are encouraged to refer to the screenshots provided below.
