
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

Black Stars head coach after the important win over Mali was queried about his system and whether he is going to maintain in subsequent games and he answered that it will depend on the opposition he will be coming up against.
Head coach of the Black Stars, Otto Addo, revealed that victory was the goal as they approached the crucial match against Mali at the Stade du 26 Mars in Bamako.
I Following their morale-boosting 2-1 victory over Mali in Bamako, the Black Stars of Ghana are now focused on their upcoming clash against the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The win against Mali, Ghana's first in 2024, ended a seven-game winless streak and revitalized their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Ghana fell behind just before halftime, but a determined second-half performance and strategic substitutions by coach Otto Addo turned the game around. Ernest Nuamah headed in the equalizer, and substitute Jordan Ayew scored the winner with a deflected effort inside the box following great work down the left by another substitute, Fatawu Issahaku.
"I think we had a very good fighting spirit, but the game was 50-50. It was even, and in the end, our substitutes made the difference," coach Otto Addo remarked after the match.
The victory propelled Ghana to second place in their six-team group, significantly enhancing their chances of securing a spot in the World Cup.
With their spirits high, the Black Stars are now concentrating on their upcoming match against the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi. The team is expected to train later on Friday as preparations for the must-win game begin in earnest.
Coach Addo emphasized the importance of adaptability in their approach: "In this game, I chose this system. In another game, I might choose a different system. The game against the Central African Republic will now be even more difficult because we will be expected to win. Mali and the Central African Republic play differently, so I might choose a different system."
Ghana's impressive comeback against Mali has given the team renewed confidence. They will aim to carry this momentum into their next match, hoping to top the group by the end of this month's qualifiers and strengthen their position in the race for World Cup qualification.
Ghana coach Otto Addo acknowledges the mounting pressure as the Black Stars prepare for their crucial match against the Central African Republic in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
The Black Stars have arrived in Kumasi, fresh off a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Mali in Bamako, a win that ended a seven-game winless streak and revived their hopes of qualifying for the tournament in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.
Ghana had to stage an impressive comeback to secure the win against Mali, having fallen behind just before halftime. They rallied in the second half to clinch the victory.
"We had trouble in the first twenty minutes, but we improved in the second half. With his pushing late in the game, Fatawu performed admirably. In these conditions, I believe we performed admirably," Otto Addo remarked. "We played with a solid fighting mentality, but the score was tied at half. It was even and in the end, our substitutes made the difference."
The victory propelled Ghana to second place in their six-team group, significantly enhancing their chances of securing a World Cup spot.
However, Addo is keenly aware of the heightened expectations as they head into their match against the Central African Republic at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.
"We will now be expected to win, which makes the game against the Central African Republic even more difficult," Addo admitted.
The coach emphasized the importance of adaptability and strategic planning, noting that different teams require different approaches.
"In this game, I chose this system. In another game, I might choose a different system. Mali and the Central African Republic play differently, so I might choose a different system," he explained.
As the Black Stars gear up for this crucial fixture, they are focused on maintaining the momentum from their victory over Mali.
The support from fans and the warm reception in Kumasi have boosted the players' morale, but the pressure to deliver a win is palpable. Ghana will aim to secure another victory to potentially top their group by the end of this month's qualifiers.
The Black Stars of Ghana have arrived in Kumasi ahead of their matchday four game against the Central African Republic (CAR) on Monday.
Coach Otto Addo and his team are coming off a hard-fought 2-1 victory against Mali in their matchday three game in Bamako on Thursday night.
The squad landed at the Nana Agyemang Prempeh I International Airport in Kumasi at 1:15 a.m. via an ASKY Airlines flight.
The team will now focus on preparing for their upcoming match against CAR, scheduled to kick off at 19:00 GMT at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium.
The match against Mali was intense, with Mali taking the lead through Kamory Doumbia just before halftime in the 45th minute. Ghana responded in the second half, with Ernest Nuamah equalizing with a powerful header in the 58th minute. The game appeared to be heading for a draw until Jordan Ayew, assisted by fellow substitute Abdul Fatawu Issahaku, scored the decisive goal in the final moments.
Currently, Ghana and Comoros are tied at the top of Group I with 6 points each. Comoros will face Madagascar on Friday, June 7, 2024.
Ghanaian forward Inaki Williams shared his reaction to the Black Stars' vital 2-1 win against Mali in the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers on Thursday.
Williams, who plays for Athletic Bilbao, was unable to participate in the qualifiers due to an injury.
Ghana needed the victory to maintain their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup, which will be hosted by the USA, Canada, and Mexico in two years.
The goals from Ernest Nuamah and Jordan Ayew secured the three points for Ghana in Bamako, marking their first competitive away win in two years.
Inaki expressed his excitement about the significant win on social media, writing, "Y3nkooooo!"
Ghana will face the Central African Republic in the next round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers on Monday, June 10, 2026.
The Black Stars are back from Bamako where they recorded a dramatic 2-1 victory over Mali on Matchday 3 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
In a gripping encounter on Thursday night, Ghana secured a vital 2-1 victory over Mali in Bamako, marking their third win in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers.
Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo secured his first win in his second spell and has expressed elation for that and praised his team's never give up spirit which he believes handed all three points.
Black Stars head coach, Otto Addo secured his first win in his second spell and has expressed elation for that and praised his team's never give up spirit which he believes handed all three points.
Ghana's national football team saw a strong performance from Abdul Mumin in their match against Mali. Mumin, a defender who plays for Rayo Vallecano in Spain, made his debut for Ghana in this game.
Mali scored first, putting Ghana behind. However, Ghana showed great determination and came back to win 2-1. Ernest Nuamah scored the equalizer, and Jordan Ayew secured the victory with a winning goal.
Mumin entered the game as a substitute in the second half and played superbly. His solid defense helped Ghana maintain their lead and complete the comeback.
This match highlighted both Ghana's fighting spirit and Mumin's potential as a valuable player for the national team. Fans are eager to see more of his strong performances in future games.