Ghanaian newspaper in hot water over Essien

Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has given a local tabloid six days to retract a story about him or face legal action.

The newly-established 'Sportslife' has serialised a story involving the family of the player over the past seven days which the Chelsea ace says 'contained no iota of truth but complete falsehood and inaccuracies calculated to defame.'

According to Rohi Legal Consult (RLC), lawyers for Essien, similar allegations were published in the United Kingdom which resulted in a grovelling apology.

"Our instructions are that prior to the publication of these defamatory matters, our Client through his agents and attorneys warned you against such publication as they contained no truth," RLC's letter to the newspaper read.

"Your attention was drawn to similar publications carried by a foreign newspaper in the United Kingdom which culminated in a grovelling for false and malicious publications and for which reason you were advised to desist from any such adventure.

"It is the case of our Client that all these pleas were ignored and unheeded.

"Our Client demands from you unreserved and unconditional apology for the false and malicious stories about him and his family immediately.

"Should you refuse and or fail to do so, we have his further instructions to take the matter further which could result in legal action against you for punitive damages."

Essien maintains a very low profile and has refused to talk publicly about the support he gives to his family.

He was tipped over the edge by UK newspaper 'The Sunday Mirror' in January when the paper suggested that the midfielder doesn't support his dad, James.

But the newspaper made a grovelling apology when representatives of Essien confronted the paper with the evidence to the contrary last month.

Even in the wake of the apology from 'The Sunday Mirror', Essien refused to talk publicly about support for his family only telling close friends.

"My parents and my family did not come out publicly to tell the whole world they were looking after me when I was a child," Essien said.

"So when it is my turn to support my family I should not come before the world and tell you what I do for my family and friends.

"When I do good I do it for the sake of God and to broadcast it to the world means I want people to praise me. I prefer to please God and will remain silent on these issues."