Ghana midfielder Michael Essien has hit out at claims that he has neglected his ailing father describing the allegations as 'false, vile and degrading'.
His father, James, told a local newspaper and radio station recently that the Chelsea star does not provide for him, an accusation the midfielder says is calculated to 'destroy me in the eyes of the people of Ghana and disgrace my family.'
Despite the claims of his father who is a former player with local giants Hearts of Oak, Essien insists he built a house, bought a car, provides medical care and money to his dad even though the man neglected him as a child.
“Given what I have done for my father, when I was told of the false, vile and degrading comments he made about me, I wept because people normally do not get insults for doing good,” said the Chelsea star in a press statement on Monday.
“But my father decided to pay me back in such a terrible way. Because of this I have been unfortunately forced to say what I have done for him because he has gone to the extreme to disgrace my family. I will like to state the following facts:
“1. My father currently lives in a three-bedroom house I instructed my sister to build for him with my own money.
“2. He is visited monthly and more recently twice a week by my sister Diana on my orders to regularly give him money and other essentials I send. My mother, whom he has insulted so much, also provides for him.
“3. I bought a car for him to make his transportation easier and part of the money I provide for him is used to fuel the car or repair it when it breaks down.
“4. When his illness broke out I asked for him to be taken to the Asikuma Hospital but he said he wants traditional medicine. I provided money for him to undergo traditional treatment. It came to nothing and I ordered for him to be taken to the hospital. My family I believe have also organised for a nurse to come home and look after him on regular bases.”
Despite the anger generated by his father's allegation the Black Stars midfielder says he will continue to offer support to his dad.
“I want to state here categorically that even after such distasteful comments; I will continue to support my father as I believe it is the right thing to do,” Essien said.
This is not the first time such an allegation has been made by James K. Essien as he made similar claims to the English newspaper the Sunday Mirror in January 2008.
The Press Complaints Commission ruled in favour of Essien which resulted in a grovelling apology from the newspaper.
