Former Chelsea midfielder John Mikel Obi shared insights into Michael Essien’s career, revealing that the Ghanaian player faced recurring injuries primarily attributed to the weight of his thighs.
Mikel, who was Essien’s teammate at Chelsea, disclosed this information on his podcast. According to Mikel, the medical team at Chelsea conveyed to Essien that the strain on his knees resulted from the substantial weight of his thighs.
Mikel further explained that Essien experienced an improvement in his fitness consistency when he began shedding weight in his upper body.
This adjustment appeared to contribute positively to Essien’s overall physical well-being, addressing the challenges posed by the weight on his thighs and its impact on his knees.
“He was always injured. The doctors said your weight on your knees, the weight of your thighs are so heavy that your knees can’t hold them. When you look at Michael, his thighs are massive and when you look at his knees, the knees are that tiny. Then it makes sense what the doctor said. So he kept having reoccurring injuries until he started to lose the upper body to give his knees some rest and the freedom to be able to move.”
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has recommended the National Blood Service management for prosecution by the Attorney General. This decision stems from procurement breaches highlighted in the 2022 Auditor General’s report.
The report revealed that the National Blood Service engaged in procurement activities exceeding GH¢130,000 without following proper procedures, which included the failure to seek alternative quotations.
James Klutse Avedzi, the Chairman of the Committee, announced this recommendation during the PAC session in Accra on Tuesday. Avedzi emphasised the seriousness of the infractions, specifically pointing out the lack of competitive procurement practices within the National Blood Service.
The call for prosecution underscores the committee’s commitment to addressing and rectifying these breaches for accountability and transparency in public procurement processes.