Substituted Service Ordered in GHC100m Defamation Suit Against Ghana Athletics Officials

By Emmanuel Austin Baah On Jul 25, 2025

An order for substituted service has been issued against Ghana Athletics (GA), its President Bawa Fuseini, Vice President Charles Osei-Asibey, and Technical Head Andrew Owusu, after the officials reportedly evaded being served with a writ in a GHC100 million defamation suit.

The legal action was initiated by Wisdom Loh, a former Ghanaian national athlete currently based in the United States. According to a report by the Daily Graphic, the suit alleges that the defendants made defamatory statements accusing Loh of athlete abuse, sexual misconduct involving minors, and actions that allegedly brought the Ghana Athletics Association (GAA) into disrepute.

This case stems from a safeguarding investigation launched by GA concerning the conduct of athletics coaches. The probe resulted in the immediate suspension of Wisdom Loh and Jeffrey Nkrumah, invoking Article 33:17 of the World Athletics Integrity Code of Conduct. GA claimed the inquiry examined whether the individuals’ actions contributed to the exploitation of athletes, both within Ghana and among Ghanaian athletes abroad.

However, Loh’s legal counsel, James Addo, has refuted these allegations, stating emphatically that Mr Loh has never served as a coach or manager of any Ghanaian athlete. Instead, Mr Addo characterised Loh as a former athlete and private individual who has offered philanthropic support to Ghanaian athletes by assisting them in securing university scholarships and providing financial aid — all at his personal cost and without expectation of compensation.

The case adds to a growing series of legal challenges confronting Ghana Athletics. Notably, it follows a precedent set by a previous defamation ruling in which former GAA President George Haldane Lutterodt was awarded GHC500,000 in damages against Andrew Owusu. The ruling highlighted growing concerns over the GA’s public communications and its capacity to maintain trust and credibility within the athletic community.

As of now, no further updates have been provided regarding the progress of the case or court proceedings, making it a significant litmus test for the leadership of Ghana Athletics.

Author

Emmanuel Austin Baah

My name is Emmanuel Austin Baah, professionally known as “Okocha”. I am a seasoned Ghanaian journalist, broadcaster and football commentator from Senya Bereku in the Central Region. My work reflects a strong commitment to factual reporting, ethical journalism and the continuous promotion of Ghanaian sports.

I am currently pursuing my studies at Cape Coast Technical University, building on a solid foundation of media practice and communication. I previously served as a sports producer at Radio Gold (90.5) and Montie FM (100.1) in Accra, where I was actively involved in editorial planning, programme production, live commentary and in-depth sports analysis.

Presently, I am a Senior Writer at SportsNetGhana.com, a role in which I produce well-researched features, match reports, athlete profiles and analytical pieces. My work consistently highlights emerging talents, captures key sporting developments and contributes to shaping informed sports discourse in Ghana.

Over the course of my career, I have covered numerous major sporting events both locally and internationally. Among these, the highlight remains my coverage of the 2014 FIFA World Cup, a significant milestone that strengthened my expertise in global football reporting and enhanced my understanding of international sports dynamics.

I am widely recognised for my clarity of analysis, engaging commentary style and strong command of both local and global football trends. Beyond the newsroom, I participate in community initiatives aimed at developing young sports journalists and promoting youth engagement in sports.

For professional engagements, media collaborations or enquiries, please contact me on 0265284330.

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