Sports journalist Patrick Osei Agyemang, better known as Countryman Songo, has issued an apology to Black Stars assistant coach John Paintsil, following the defamation lawsuit filed against him.
Countryman Songo, one of the defendants in the lawsuit, made the apology during his show on Adom TV on Monday, April 8, 2024.
Expressing remorse for his actions, Countryman Songo admitted that his remarks against the Black Stars assistant coach were misguided.
He acknowledged that his emotions had clouded his judgment, leading to his inappropriate comments.
“God said we should be straightforward so if you realize that you’ve wronged your brother, just apologize. I want to apologize to John Paintsil for some things that didn’t go well. He’s a deputy Black Stars coach. I said certain things that didn’t sit well with him and it worried him,” Songo said.
He added, “Sometimes when you get angry you say things that you later regret because you didn’t handle things well. So I want to tell him I am sorry and I ask for his forgiveness because after all football is the reason we are in this industry.”
John Paintsil filed a defamation lawsuit against four sports journalists and three media entities, seeking GH¢80 million in damages.
The journalists named in the lawsuit are Veronica Commey, Saddick Adams, Christopher Nimley, and Patrick Osei Agyemang, popularly known as Countryman Songo.
The media entities served with the writ are Omni Media Limited, Angel Broadcasting Network, and Multimedia Group. They have been given eight days to respond and appear in court.
John Paintsil faced criticism following his appointment as deputy coach of Ghana’s senior national team. He had previously attracted public ire for condemning some journalists, including those named in the suit, for organizing a protest against the Ghana Football Association and the Ministry of Youth and Sports.
The protest aimed to highlight the poor state of football and sports in Ghana and to urge regulatory bodies to address the issues.
However, Paintsil defended the GFA and the ministry, arguing that the protest lacked merit.