Anim Addo pleads not guilty to GFA’s ”defective and baseless charges”
A former member of the Ghana Football Association’s (GFA) Executive Council, Samuel Anim Addo, has pleaded not guilty to the charges levelled against him by the GFA’s prosecutor.
In a written response anchored on five points, Anim Addo, challenged the basis of the charges and asserted that they were ”defective”.
On January 9th, the former Executive Council member was accused of bringing the image of the game into disrepute after alleging that some members of the GFA had threatened to relegate his club, Young Apostles.
This was after Mr. Addo had accused referee Maxwell Hanson of consistent questionable refereeing in the Ghana Premier League and other competitions.
The post which was originally shared on Twitter, was in response to a similar complain by Accra Lions after Hanson’s controversial performance in their league match against Dreams FC.
MAXWELL HANSON IS THEIR MAN FOR ´DIRTY’ WORKS.
Ghana’s focus the last few weeks has been about the last general elections and inauguration of a new set of political and governance leaders many consider a new dawn following diverse challenges for years now.
The intensity of the… pic.twitter.com/Q6yiRPC9HU
— Sammy Anim Addo (@AnimSammy) January 9, 2025
Shortly after his post on the micro-blogging platform X, Anim Addo was charged on two counts by the GFA prosecutor and was giving 48 hours to submit a response.
He was accused of behaving in a way that brings the sport of football and/or GFA into disrepute; contrary to Article 34(6)(d) of the GFA Premier League Regulations, 2019.
Additionally, he was charged with wrongly accusing a match official without proof; contrary to Article 38(8)(C) of the GFA Premier League Regulations, 2019.
— GFA REGULATORY ACTIONS (@GFA_prosecutor) January 9, 2025
In his initial response, Anim Addo requested an in-person hearing in the presence of his attorney.
This was rejected by the GFA who insisted on a written response.
On January 17, he obliged and officially wrote to GFA, stating a plea of not guilty to the offences levelled against him.
He insisted that the charges did not accurately reflect his comments on the matter.
The defendant further asserted that charges brought against him in Count One are not supported by
the provisions quoted by the GFA.
Regarding the second count, Anim Addo also insisted that the GFA prosecutors charges are not supported by the specific provisions quoted on the charge sheet.
He concluded that the charges are ”defective and they cannot sustain any disciplinary proceedings.”
He concluded by requesting for a full hearing where he will be represented by his attorney.
”You will agree that with me that the basis of my defense are essentially legal and factual matters which will require a full hearing, where I will be represented by Counsel of my choice. I am counting on your respect to the rules of natural justice so that I am able to present my full defense in person with the aid of Counsel of my choice.”
The GFA is yet to respond to Samuel Anim Addo’s statement of defense.