Referee Maxwell Hanson Demands Retraction and Apology from Samuel Anim Addo Over Defamation Claims

Referee Maxwell Hanson’s legal team has officially requested an apology and retraction from Young Apostles president Samuel Anim Addo over alleged defamatory statements made against him.

Anim Addo, a former Ghana Football Association (GFA) Executive Council member, recently took to Twitter (X), accusing Hanson of being used by the GFA to manipulate match outcomes. The allegations arose after a controversial match between Accra Lions and Dreams FC, which Hanson officiated.

Hanson’s Legal Demands

In a formal statement, Hanson’s lawyers outlined the following demands:

1. Preserve Records: Anim Addo is required to provide information on the readership and impressions of the alleged defamatory post and related social media activity.
2. Post Removal: The publication must be deleted from Anim Addo’s Twitter (X) account, along with any associated social media posts.
3. Non-Republication Assurance: Anim Addo must commit not to republish the allegations in any form.
4. Public Retraction and Apology: A retraction and apology, equivalent in prominence to the original post, must be published in terms agreed upon by Hanson’s legal team.
5. Pinned Apology: The apology must be pinned to Anim Addo’s Twitter account, ensuring accessibility to users.
6. Compensation: Anim Addo is expected to compensate Hanson for reputational damage, emotional distress, and any financial losses incurred.
7. Legal Costs: Payment of Hanson’s legal fees is also being demanded.