After being sued for slander by Black Stars assistant coach John Paintsil, an Accra High Court issued an order for substituted service on former GBC broadcast journalist Veronica Commey.
John Paintsil filed a lawsuit against journalists Veronica Commey, Saddick Adams, Patrick Osei Agyemang (popularly known as Songo), and Christopher Nimley.
The case derives from allegations made by journalists on several radio shows that Paintsil forged his CAF Coaching certificate.
The ex-Ghana international launched a defamation lawsuit against the four journalists and the media outlets where the allegedly defamatory words were broadcast.
The Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim were successfully served on Saddick Adams, Patrick Osei Agyemang, and Christopher Nimley. However, efforts to assist Veronica Commey have been greeted with major obstacles.
According to accounts, Veronica Commey had been evasive and difficult for the court bailiff to reach in order to avoid being physically served with the papers.
Lawyers for the Blackstars Legend applied to the court to serve the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim on Veronica Commey via substituted methods in order to guarantee that she received notice of the writ.
John Paintsil is represented by WTS Nobisfields Ghana, a respected international legal practice that is part of WTS Global, a well-known network that operates in about 100 countries worldwide.
@VeronicaCommey Legal notice 1 pic.twitter.com/hgRZXGobFm
— WTS Nobisfields (Law Firm) (@nobisfields) June 6, 2024
Following repeated unsuccessful attempts to serve Veronica Commey, the court issued an order of substituted service. When regular procedures fail, alternative means of serving court documents are permitted by the court rules.
The terms of the substituted service order will ensure that Commey is notified of the litigation via Whatsapp, X, and Facebook.
The Court additionally directed that the Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim be posted on the Court's notice board and in a prominent location on GBC's premises. The claims made by the journalists have major consequences for John Paintsil's professional standing.
As an assistant coach with the Ghana Black Stars, his credentials and honesty are critical. Paintsil asserted that the claims are unfounded and has initiated legal action to clear his name.
The court's decision to award an order of substituted service emphasizes the significance of due process and keeping all parties involved in legal disputes well-informed.
This instance emphasizes journalists' crucial role in confirming information before broadcasting possibly harmful claims. The outcome of this lawsuit is anticipated to have far-reaching repercussions for Ghanaian media practices and journalist accountability.
Below is the Order for Substitute Service from the Accra High Court
