Michael Essien: ‘José Mourinho has a big ego but in a good way’ | Football | The Guardian Chelsea Michael Essien: ‘José Mourinho has a big ego but in a good way’ The Ghanaian midfielder tips Radamel Falcao to find his best form at Chelsea under the manager’s guidance while he himself beds in at Panathinaikos Michael Essien’s foundation has teamed up with Penguin to distribute Ladybird books featuring footballers delivering educational messages about how to prevent the spread of Ebola. Photograph: Martin Godwin for the Guardian Thursday 23 July 2015 07.28 EDT First published on Thursday 23 July 2015 05.00 EDT Share on Messenger Close Among a select group of players to be signed by José Mourinho not once but twice Michael Essien has an insight into what makes the Chelsea manager tick and he has backed him to succeed where Louis van Gaal failed in coaxing Radamel Falcao back to his best. The former Chelsea and Real Madrid midfielder, whose muscular box-to-box style was synonymous with Mourinho’s first spell at Stamford Bridge, can sum up his genius in a single word: “Ego”.

In the best possible sense of the word, you understand. “We had a great group of players with a manager who was always behind us and kept pushing us,” recalls the softly spoken Ghanaian who spent eight seasons with Chelsea including loan spells at Real Madrid and Milan. Chelsea concede four second-half goals in defeat to New York Red Bulls Read more “We had players with big egos and big characters but at the same time they were good men as well. Mourinho has a big ego as well – but in a good way. It was easy for him to manage those kind of players. He is still the same man. He’s still tough.” The Portuguese, he says, has the rare knack of being able to zero in on the right motivation for each player. And, he predicts, Mourinho will do the same for Falcao , the Colombia striker who was so deadly before his knee injury in January last year, so disappointing since. “He knows how to get the best out of his players, how to say the right thing, how to motivate them. He will get him back to the Falcao everybody knows.” Pinterest Michael Essien shakes hands with José Mourinho after joining Chelsea in 2005. They later worked together at Real Madrid.

Photograph: Paul Childs/Action Images When Mourinho took Essien on loan to Real Madrid , calling him on the team coach when he was on his way to play for Chelsea in the 2012 Super Cup, there was only one possible response. He was in Madrid the following day. “If you have a manager who knows you and he is at one of the greatest clubs in the world, of course you say yes. I went on loan to the biggest club in the world.” Essien, shy off the pitch despite his dominating presence among those big names at Stamford Bridge and the Bernabéu, retains a house near Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham but recently signed for Panathinaikos . Despite the wider economic malaise facing Greece he was afforded a traditionally ebullient welcome, accompanied by celebrating crowds and firecrackers, when he pitched up to put pen to paper at 1am. “I’m not a difficult person. I just want to enjoy my football until I hang up my boots,” says the 32-year-old, who has found the latter part of his career punctuated by frustrating injuries . “It was a good move for me to go to Greece.

It’s one of the biggest clubs there and I’m really looking forward to it.” And after that? “I’ll take my kids to school. I miss them when I’m away.” Like other big-name footballers from Africa to have become household names in Europe over the past decade, he is also determined to give something back to his homeland through his foundation . Driven by his wife Akosua it has embarked on a new campaign, United Against Ebola . It has teamed up with Penguin and Professor Peter Piot, the man who co-discovered the virus in 1976, to distribute Ladybird books featuring Essien and other footballers delivering educational messages about how to prevent the spread of the disease. Pinterest Michael Essien in action last season for Milan against Verona. He played only 22 games for the club in 16 months because of injury. Photograph: Mario Carlini /Iguana Press/Getty Images When he was at Milan, where he managed only 22 games because of injury, an erroneous rumour spread that he had contracted the disease at the height of the outbreak. “Instead of being negative about it I decided to launch this campaign. It’s a killer disease, especially in West Africa,” he says.

“We can only do what we can to stop this. It’s really dangerous, it’s still killing people every day. So we have to start somewhere.” The memory of growing up in Accra, where he returns every summer for an extended holiday to see his mother and catch up with family and friends, burns bright. “I always spend my summer in Ghana. I don’t go anywhere else. My children have to know where they come from and the way of life in Africa. They can compare both and appreciate what they have.” Essien, whose older brother drowned before he was born after falling down a well, says his foundation has also focused on educating children and providing basic amenities. “Their focus is on football but we try and educate them about other things. Chelsea became very popular in Ghana when I moved there,” he says with a laugh. It is the extent to which the English top flight exerted an irresistible gravitational pull that shines through when he discusses his childhood. Essien hides behind his hands and collapses laughing when asked who he supported growing up (safe to assume it was not Chelsea). His journey took him from Liberty Professionals in the Accra suburb of Dansoman to a trial at Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United at 17. “I met Ferguson.

It was a nice experience. I came with a friend, it was really nice for us to go there and see those big players. I just wanted to play in Europe.” Years later, when Real Madrid met Manchester United in the Champions League, he recalls being in the dressing room with Ferguson and Mourinho. They talked about how things might have turned out had there not been work permit issues surrounding his proposed move to Old Trafford. Instead of United his agent arranged a trial at Bastia and from there he progressed to Lyon and then to Chelsea in 2005 in what was then the biggest transfer involving an African player. Then, too, Mourinho would not take no for an answer. “When I was little my dream was to come and play in the Premier League. So when Chelsea came in I said yes straight away. At that time they were trying to build Chelsea back up again,” he says. “We had a great time, I gave them everything I could and I played my best football at Chelsea . I’m happy I won a lot of trophies for them and proud now to be one of those players who brought Chelsea up again.” Pinterest Michael Essien is all smiles at Athens International Airport last month as he arrives to sign for Panathinaikos.

Photograph: Yorgos Karahalis/AP In a reminder that for all the hand-wringing in this country about its relevance the FA Cup retains an almost supernatural hold in the imagination internationally, Essien recalls winning the trophy as fondly as he does his Premier League titles. “I was the first Ghanaian to win the FA Cup and then my best friend, Sulley Muntari, won it with Portsmouth.” He will return to England and London (“my second home”) when his career is over but for now he is focused on the task ahead in Athens. Fifa’s recent meltdown has reignited the debate around the relationship between the game in Africa and Europe, with the best players inevitably drawn to the game’s richest continent but Africa’s national sides failing to achieve the long-predicted breakthrough at the World Cup. “Back home every kid wants to come to Europe to play as a professional. It’s good for Europe to have the best players coming here too,” says Essien. “You have to keep hoping that one day an African country can win the World Cup.

You have to keep going, keep trying.” International success is the one thing missing from Essien’s CV and he was denied the chance to try to make amends when Avram Grant left him out of the squad for this year’s African Nations Cup. “Playing for your country is an honour. I love my country and I always want to give back to them. It was a disappointment but that’s football,” he says. “I could have done with winning the African Nations Cup. You can’t win them all.” Perhaps still thinking of that 17-year-old who came to Europe with big dreams and made it where so many of his compatriots fail, Essien frets over whether the motivation remains the same for some of those coming through the youth ranks. “That’s a little bit of a problem. Now the kids get too much too young and they don’t work enough to play the game. They play the game for other reasons, not because they love it,” he says, echoing the thoughts of his former midfield partner Frank Lampard about the motivation of young players. “Back in the day you played the game because you loved it. With some of the kids now it’s difficult to tell. It was never about money for me at all.

I love the game more than what comes with the game.” It is a desire that took him to some of the biggest clubs in Europe and delivered all the trappings that came with that. But at heart, and for all the injury niggles of recent years, he insists his motivation is the same as when he obsessively watched the Premier League as a child. “I just want to play football. For me it’s all about football.” Michael Essien And Nadia Buari - Michael Essien Net Worth Michael Essien And Nadia Buari Read more... Michael Essien Michael Essien Net Worth is .. Michael Kojo Essien (born 3 December 1982) is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Milan and the Ghana national team. He is a midfielder who has often been touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert energy in supporting offensive and ... Michael Essien Net Worth is . Michael Essien Net Worth is . Michael Kojo Essien is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Milan and the Ghana national team.

He is a midfielder who has often been touted as a box-to-box midfielder for his ability to exert energy in supporting offensive and defensive play and for his tough tackling style which has earned him the nickname "The Bison". Essien can also play as a defender, both on the right of defence and in the centre. Essien began his career playing for Liberty Professionals in his home country. In 2000, he moved to France joining Bastia. Essien spent three seasons at the club appearing in over 60 matches before joining league champions Olympique Lyonnais in 2003. At Lyon, Essien won back-to-back league titles in 2003a??04 and 2004a??05 and also played in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. During his five-year stint in France, he acquired French citizenship. In 2005, Essien signed with Chelsea for a fee of A?24.4 million and, at the time of his signing, was the most...

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien named in Ghana's World Cup squad | Football | The Guardian Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien named in Ghana's World Cup squad • Essien expected to recover from injury in time for tournament • Squad set for training camp in France starting on 24 May Michael Essien has been named in Ghana's preliminary World Cup squad. Photograph: Adam Davy/Empics Press Association Tuesday 11 May 2010 04.01 EDT First published on Tuesday 11 May 2010 04.01 EDT Close This article is 6 years old Milovan Rajevac said it had not been easy to whittle down his list of Ghana players to 29 after naming his preliminary squad for this summer's World Cup . The coach had to endure a difficult month trying to travel around Europe in the havoc caused by the volcanic ash, but has finally come up with his final list for South Africa. Injured Premier League-based pair Michael Essien and John Mensah have both been named, while there is also a call up for Kevin-Prince Boateng, who is still awaiting the formalisation of his nationality switch from Germany after turning out for them at youth level.

Born in Ghana , the Portsmouth midfielder will be hoping he receives the all-clear from Fifa before the final squad deadline on 1 June. The Chelsea midfielder Essien, currently recuperating from a knee injury, is expected to be fit along with on-loan Sunderland defender Mensah, who has been troubled by a calf problem. "Of course, I have been monitoring my team," Rajevac said. "It hasn't been easy. A lot of work has been going on during this important period. Some of my tour to see the players had to be in the car or on the road because of the volcanic ash in Europe. "I have seen everything for myself, and my assistant – Kwesi Appiah – has also been watching some of the players. I have confidence in all the players." There are four locally-based players in the squad, three of whom are goalkeepers, while the Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari is recalled after disciplinary issues led to him being dropped from January's African Nations Cup. The west African country are in Group D, alongside Serbia, Australia and Germany. The 29 players named will take part in a week-long pre-tournament training camp in France starting on 24 May.

Ghana preliminary squad Goalkeepers: Richard Kingson (Wigan), Daniel Agyei (Liberty Professionals), Stephen Ahorlu (Hearts of Lions), Stephen Adams (Aduana Stars). Defenders: Samuel Inkoom (Basle), Eric Addo (Roda JC), Jonathan Mensah (Granada), Lee Addy (Bechem Chelsea), Rahim Ayew (Zamalek), Hans Sarpei (Bayer Leverkusen), John Mensah (Lyon), Isaac Vorsah (Hoffenheim), John Pantsil (Fulham). Midfielders: Sulley Muntari (Internazionale), Derek Boateng (Getafe), Anthony Annan (Rosenborg), Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah (both Udinese), Andre Ayew (Marseille), Michael Essien (Chelsea), Stephen Appiah (Bologna), Haminu Draman (Lokomotiv Moscow), Quincy Owusu Abeyie (Al Sadd), Bernard Kumordzie (Panionios), Laryea Kingston (Hearts), Kevin-Prince Boateng (Portsmouth).

Forwards: Matthew Amoah (NAC Breda), Asamoah Gyan (Rennes), Prince Tagoe (Hoffenheim), Dominic Adiyiah (Milan). BBC World Service - Africa - Michael Essien Last updated: 27 november, 2009 - 17:55 GMT Michael Essien Michael Essien is one of the best performers in world football and his contribution to both club and country in 2009 will go down as one of his best. Even though he started the year on the injury list, he returned to inspire his stumbling Chelsea side to win some silverware and to aid Ghana's qualification for the 2010 World Cup. His importance to Chelsea was underlined as the Blues struggled in his absence even though they had key players like Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Nicholas Anelka. Chelsea were unable to keep pace with the Premier League's leaders Liverpool and Manchester United without Essien, which resulted in the sacking of Brazilian manager Luis Felipe Scolari in February. Essien's return to fitness in April amply demonstrated his importance as Chelsea turned the corner in dramatic fashion to reignite their bids for silverware at the end of last season.

They eventually won the FA Cup, finishing an impressive third in the league and were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League under controversial circumstances as the season came to an end in May. This season he has already helped Chelsea to beat Manchester United to win the season-opening Charity Shield title and has so far scored six goals for the Blues. Essien returned to Ghana in September to score for the Black Stars as they beat Sudan 2-0 to become the first African country to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. His value to a team can hardly be overstated. Essien's versatility has come in handy for Ghana and Chelsea. His ability to play in both central and wide midfield roles as well as an emergency centre-back and right back makes him unique. Africa's Top 10 Greatest Players of All Time Tweet Many still ponder whether one African country will be brave enough to take continental advantage and win Africa her first World Cup this summer. All five of Africa’s representatives in South Africa took part in this year’s bi-annual African Nations Cup in Angola, but it was a team not going, Eygpt, who won the tournament.

For the love of the game many African players have made huge impacts at all levels, imperious in many of the world’s top divisions for decades. Eusebio, a living legend was born in Maputo and his statue standing in front of Benfica’s Estadio da Luz tells his story. And then there was Mario Coluna, and the late Sabastiao Lucas da Fonseca well known as Matateu, Africa have had them all ranked and rated among the best. Great players by great names come and go but the greatest always stays glued and tacked to our memories. Many exemplary players are out to emulate and supersede heroes and idols, therefore determining and naming greatest players always triggers endless debates. Born in Africa or not, place of birth does not count but caps do. Eusebio, Patrick Vieira and many more could not therefore be considered. Here are the best African top ten players of all time: 1. George Oppong Weah (Liberia) George Oppong Weah is a three times African Footballer of the Year, and the only African to date to win the European Footballer of the Year and FIFA World Player of the Year awards. Weah is a man of many qualities.

No wonder he traded football for politics after a glorious career in Europe. Under Arsene Wenger at Monaco Weah won the league championship in his first season and a French Cup in 1991, scoring 67 goals in 102 club appearances, before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in 1994. With another league title in Paris under his belt he attracted the attention of Italian giants AC Milan where his strength and speed terrorised defenders in Serie A and Europe. He subsequently had a stint in England before retiring. Weah impressively served his country with distinction, winning 60 caps and scoring 22 times in a career that saw him as a player, financier and motivator of his team. 2. Albert Roger Mooh Milla (Cameroon) At the age of 38, Albert Roger Mooh Milla’s charismatic and vivid display changed the entire image of African football. Cameroon dazzled the entire planet in the World Cup of 1990 and Milla’s meritorious corner flag wiggly hips won him thousands of fans.

Two time African Player of the Year in 1976 and 1990 respectively, Milla enjoyed European football in France, with spells of note at Saint-Etienne and Montpellier. Roger Milla was brilliant, explosive, entertaining and won titles for both club and country in a golden career that lasted 26 wonderful years. No wonder at the age of 42 he scored a goal that saved Cameroon embarrassment against Russia at the World Cup finals in the USA. 3. Samuel Eto’o Fils (Cameroon) Three times African Footballer of the Year, Eto’o has never missed out on a place in the top 10 and he is this year’s hot favourite following a remarkable campaign with Barcelona before moving to Internazionale. At Barcelona Eto’o won almost everything a player can dream of and his illustrious career regularly hit the heights. A record breaker cum-record holder Eto’o is a 2000 Olympic gold medallist and African Nations Cup all time top scorer with 18 goals. All these are reasons why he is the most recognised African footballer of recent years. Still only 28, his abilities could yet see him crowned Africa’s best ever.

4. Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew (Ghana) Abedi Ayew was one of the most accomplished players of his generation, technically gifted and with a good eye for goal. Starting at Real Tamale United in his native Ghana, Pele enjoyed a successful European adventure that included Niort, Marseille, Lille and Torino. In 1993 he became the first African player ever to win the UEFA Champions League while with Marseille. From 1991 to 1993 Pele was African Footballer of the Year. He represented Ghana at international level between 1982 and 1998, playing 73 times and scoring 33 goals. 5. Augustus ‘Jay- jay’ Okocha (Nigeria) Unsung hero, ball juggler Jay-jay Okocha is arguably African’s best player ever not to win the coveted African Player of the Year award, although the British Broadcasting Corporation named him the best African player of the year in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

After four years in Germany and a spell in Turkey, Okocha became Africa’s most expensive footballer in 1998 when Paris St-Germain paid $24M to secure his goals and skills following a very excellent World Cup. In 2002, Okocha joined Bolton Wanderers on a free transfer and led the team to a League Cup final in 2004, in the same season they finished eighth. The following season Bolton finished sixth and qualified for the UEFA Cup for the first time. Okocha became renowned for superb long range strikes and delighted fans in England with his power drives. Internationally the Nigeria star played in three World Cups and five African Nations Cups, winning one. He was also part of the Olympic team that took gold at Atlanta in 1996. 6. Hossam Hassan (Egypt) Hossam Hassan is one of the most decorated footballers Africa can proudly boast. At Al Ahly Hossam won every title in the domestic and continental game. The striker served his country with brilliant goals and admirable leadership, a quality that made him probably Egypt’s most recognised footballer in African Nations Cup tournament history.

With 169 international appearances he is currently the world’s fourth most capped player and the second most capped in Africa just behind his compatriot Ahmed Hassan. Hossam took part in five African Nations Cup finals winning two, the last coming in 2006 at the age of 40. 7. Rabah Madjer (Algeria) Rabah Madjer was the reason Algeria won the 1990 African Nations Cup on home soil. In Europe the striker had a well endorsed astonishing career at FC Porto, helping the club to become one of the most recognised outfits in European competitions. His unforgettable elegant back-heeled goal against Bayern Munich in a European Cup final also allowed the Portuguese side to claim the famous trophy. Madjer is the only African player to win the defunct Intercontinental Cup, being named man of the match against Penarol of Uruguay, scoring the winning goal in extra-time to secure Porto the trophy, and add to his two Portuguese league titles. The Algerian played in two World Cup finals, 1982 in Spain, and 1986 in Mexico, before becoming African Player of the Year in 1987.

In Portugal, Madjer enjoyed an illustrious career with Porto, briefly interrupting it with a stint at Valencia. Eventually he headed to Qatar before retiring in 1992. 8. Thomas N’kono (Cameroon) Thomas N’kono spent almost a decade guarding the posts at Espanyol in the Spanish top division but many will definitely remember his exuberance and magnetic reactions between the posts for the Indomitable Lions. N’kono played at the World Cups of 1982, 1990, and was a squad member with the 1994 World Cup team. In African Nations Cup competitions the goalkeeper was ever present and was also awarded African Player of the Year in 1982. The Cameroonian was probably one of the most accomplished goalkeepers in the game and surely the finest Africa has ever produced. 9. Mahmoud El-Khatib (Egypt) Mahmoud El-Khatib was sensational, his explosive runs and phenomenal goals in world football lasted 18 years. He won an amazing 11 Egyptian league titles and six Egyptian cups with his only club Al Ahly, and was a record five times Egyptian footballer of the year.

African footballer of the year in 1983, El-Khatib was voted second best African footballer of the century in a poll by the (CAF) Confederation of African Football, just behind Roger Milla. The Egyptian possessed speed, power and excellent ball control that made him the deadliest striker in his country’s history. He played in six African Nations Cups and won one in 1986. 10. Michael Kojo Essien (Ghana) At the FIFA World Under-17 championships in New Zealand, Michael Essien was arguably the best player in the tournament, but Ghana could only manage bronze. Spotted and wanted he went to France where he won league titles and a lot of individual honours. In 2004, Chelsea offered Lyon a staggering £24M and after days of hard negotiations the Blues got their man. Essien is a versatile midfielder whose burning desire to succeed strikes fear in the the opposition every time he plays. His equal abilities to defend and score rocket goals make him one the best box to box midfielders around in modern football. Unforgettable long range efforts in the Champions League and Premier League alike are evidence of his qualities.

Famous people of Ghana William Boyd, CBE is a British novelist and screenwriter resident in London. Hans Sarpei Soccer Hans Adu Sarpei is a Ghanaian-German ex-footballer who played as a full back. His last club was Bundesliga side Schalke 04. He also was a long time regular for the Ghana national football team. Sarpei most recently played for his country at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Tony Yeboah Soccer Anthony "Tony" Yeboah is a Ghanaian former professional footballer who played as a striker from 1981 to 2002. He is considered one of the most prominent and prolific goal scorers in Ghanaian and African football history and gained a reputation for scoring spectacular goals which often featured in Goal of the Month or Goal of the Season competitions, often celebrated by wagging his index finger towards the crowd. Yeboah is most noted for his time at European clubs 1. FC Saarbrücken, Eintracht Frankfurt, Leeds United and Hamburger SV during the 1990s.

He also played for Asante Kotoko, Cornerstones Kumasi, Okwawu United and Al-Ittihad Doha. He was capped 59 times by Ghana, scoring 29 goals. He now runs an international sports agency and a chain of hotels in Ghana. Wakaso Mubarak Soccer Midfielder Wakaso Mubarak, known mononymously as Wakaso, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for FC Rubin Kazan in Russia, as a left winger. Jerry Rawlings Politician Jerry John Rawlings is a former air force officer and the current African Union envoy to Somalia. Rawlings initially came to power in Ghana following a coup d'état in 1979 and, after initially handing power over to a civilian government, took back control of the country on 31 December 1981, as the Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council. He remained in power in this way until 1992, when he resigned from the Armed Forces, founded the National Democratic Congress and became the first president of the Fourth Republic. He was re-elected in 1996 for a further four years.

Rawlings initiated his debut coup d'état on 15 May 1979, leading a group of military personnel in a coup attempt on General Fred Akuffo which resulted in him arrested, imprisoned and facing a death sentence. On June 4, soldiers sympathetic to his motivations broke him out of jail, and he led a revolt of both the military and civilians which overthrew General Akuffo and the Supreme Military Council, effectively leaving him in charge. Rawlings and the soldiers around him formed the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council and conducted what it termed "a housecleaning exercise", whose aim was to purge Ghanaian society of all the corruption and social injustices that they perceived to be at the root of their coup d'état. Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu Soccer Midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, also known simply as Badu, is a Ghanaian international footballer, who plays for Serie A club Udinese in Italy. George Boateng George Boateng is the brother of Jérôme Boateng.

Richmond Boakye Soccer Richmond Yiadom Boakye is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a striker for La Liga club Elche CF, on loan from Juventus, and the Ghana national football team. Dominic Adiyiah Soccer Dominic Adiyiah is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as a striker for Ukrainian Premier League club Arsenal Kyiv. Adiyiah hails from Offinso in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Prince Tagoe Soccer Prince Tagoe is a Ghanaian footballer who plays as a striker for Serbian SuperLiga club Partizan John Mensah Soccer John Mensah is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender. Mensah spent the 2009–2010 and 2010–2011 seasons on loan at English club Sunderland in the Premier League. Mensah last played for Rennes in the French Ligue 1 . John Paintsil Soccer Midfielder John Paintsil is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays in the South African National First Division for Santos and the Ghana national team. His family name is Paintsil but at birth, it was registered as Pantsil.

This then appeared on his passport and his registration with the Premier League. John Kufuor Politician John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor was the second President of the Fourth Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of the African Union. His victory over John Atta-Mills after the end of Jerry Rawlings' second term marked the first peaceful democratic transition of power in Ghana since the country's independence in 1957. Kufuor's career has been spent on the liberal-democratic side of Ghanaian politics, in the parties descended from the United Gold Coast Convention and the United Party. He was a minister in Kofi Abrefa Busia's Progress Party government during Ghana's Second Republic, and a Popular Front Party opposition frontbencher during the Third Republic. In the Fourth Republic he stood as the New Patriotic Party's candidate at the 1996 election, and then led it to victory in 2000 and 2004. Having served two terms, in 2008 he was no longer eligible for the presidency.

Richard Kingson Soccer Richard Paul Franck Kingson is a professional football goalkeeper who plays for the Cypriot First Division club Doxa Katokopias and for the Ghana national football team. He is also known as Faruk Gürsoy and is frequently misnamed Kingston due to "irregularity on his identity documents". After leaving his native Ghana, he played for several clubs in Turkey, for Hammarby in Sweden, and in England for Birmingham City, Wigan Athletic and Blackpool, who released him at the end of the 2010–11 season. Kingson was the vice-captain for the Ghana national football team and is the most capped player for the national team with 90 caps. He holds both a Ghanaian passport and a Turkish passport. Anthony Annan Soccer Midfielder Anthony Gildas Kofi Annan is a Ghanaian international footballer, who currently plays as a central midfielder for Schalke 04 of the Bundesliga. Robert Bathurst Actor Robert Guy Bathurst is an English actor. Bathurst was born in the Gold Coast in 1957, where his father was working as a management consultant.

His family moved to Dublin, Ireland, in 1959 and Bathurst was enrolled at an Anglican boarding school. In 1966, the family moved to England, and Bathurst transferred to Worth School in Sussex, where he took up amateur dramatics. At the age of 18, he read law at the University of Cambridge and joined the Cambridge Footlights group. After graduating, he took up acting full-time. He made his professional stage debut in 1983, playing Tim Allgood in Michael Frayn's Noises Off, which ran for a year at the Savoy Theatre. To broaden his knowledge of working on stage, he joined the National Theatre. He supplemented his stage roles in the 1980s with television roles, appearing in comedies such as the aborted pilot episode of Blackadder, Chelmsford 123, The Lenny Henry Show, and the first episode of Red Dwarf. In 1991, he won his first major television role playing Mark Taylor in Steven Moffat's semi-autobiographical BBC sitcom Joking Apart.

Although only thirteen episodes were made between 1991 and 1995, the role remains Bathurst's favourite of his whole career. After Joking Apart concluded, he was cast as pompous management consultant David Marsden in the ITV comedy drama Cold Feet, which ran for five series from 1998 to 2003. Mahershalalhashbaz Ali Actor Mahershalalhashbaz Ali is an American actor. He is perhaps best known for his portrayal of Richard Tyler on the USA Network science fiction television series The 4400, and "Tizzy" in the 2008 motion picture The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Ali was born Mahershalalhashbaz Gilmore in Accra, Ghana. He is named after one of the sons of Isaiah in the Bible. Raised a Christian, he later converted to Ahmadiyya Islam. His father, Phillip, appeared in musical theater. Dominic Oduro Soccer Dominic Oduro is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. Junior Agogo Soccer Manuel "Junior" Agogo is a retired Ghanaian professional footballer.

He has spent most of his career in England, as well as spells in the United States, Egypt, Cyprus and most recently Scotland. Azumah Nelson Professional Boxer Azumah Nelson, a native of Ghana, is a former professional boxer. He is widely considered as the greatest African boxer ever. He is a three-time world champion in two weight classes. Nelson is the former two-time WBC super featherweight Champion, and the former the WBC featherweight champion. Frank Acheampong Frank Acheampong is a Ghanaian footballer currently plays as a winger for Anderlecht. Alexander Tettey Soccer Midfielder Alexander Banor Tettey is a Norwegian footballer who plays as a midfielder for English Premier League club Norwich City. Tettey was born in Ghana, but moved to Norway when he was young. He has previously played for Rosenborg and Rennes. Tettey has been capped while playing for Norway. Matthew Amoah Soccer Mathew Amoah is a Ghanaian international striker who currently plays for Heracles Almelo in the Dutch Eredivisie. Hugh Quarshie Actor Hugh Anthony Quarshie is a Ghanaian-born British actor of stage, television and film.

Some of his best-known roles include his appearances in the films Highlander and Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, and his long-running role as Ric Griffin in the BBC medical drama Holby City. Daniel Opare Soccer Daniel Tawiah Opare is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as a right wingback or left wingback for Belgian club Standard Liège and the Ghana national team. Alfred Duncan Soccer Midfielder Joseph Alfred Duncan is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Livorno, on loan from Internazionale, as a midfielder. Nadia Buari Actor Nadia Buari is a Ghanaian actress. She received two nominations for Best Actress in a Leading Role at the African Movie Academy Awards in 2007 and 2009. Peter Turkson Religious Leader Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson is a Ghanaian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He is the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 24 October 2009. He had served as Archbishop of Cape Coast. He was elevated to the cardinalate by Pope John Paul II in 2003, and is widely regarded as papabile.

Samuel Inkoom Soccer Samuel Inkoom is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as a defender for the Ghana national team and currently is a free agent. Nii Lamptey Soccer Midfielder Nii Odartey Lamptey is a former Ghanaian professional footballer and current assistant manager of Sekondi Wise Fighters. During his career he played as a striker from 1990 until 2008 notably for Aston Villa, PSV Eindhoven, Coventry City and the Ghana national football team. He is known foremost for his erratic career, in which he became a superstar as a teenager and then suffered a long string of failures which burnt him out well before his time. Lamptey has been used as a byword for a cautionary tale of putting too much pressure on young players to be successful. He also played for Anderlecht, Venezia, Unión Santa Fe, Ankaragücü, União Leiria, Greuther Fürth, Shandong Luneng, Al-Nassr, Asante Kotoko and Jomo Cosmos. Joshua Clottey Professional Boxer Joshua Clottey is a Ghanaian professional boxer.

Born in Accra, Ghana, Clottey now lives in the Bronx, New York. He is the former IBF welterweight champion. He is also the brother of veteran boxers Judas Clottey and Emmanuel Clottey. Fuse ODG Afrobeat Artist Nana Richard Abiona, known by his stage name Fuse ODG, is a British musician of Ghanaian descent. On 19 October 2013, Fuse ODG was awarded 'Best African Act' at the MOBO Award's 18th Anniversary. Harry Sawyerr Politician Harry Sawyerr is a former Ghanaian politician and quantity surveyor. Harry Sawyerr was the first person to be president of the Ghana Institution of Surveyors. He served two terms spanning 1969 to 1971. He was among the founders of the United National Convention formed to contest the 1979 parliamentary election. He however left the party to stand as an independent candidate and became a Member of Parliament in the Third Republic Parliament. Harry Sawyerr served as Minister for Transport and Communications from 1979 to 1981 in the Limann government.

He also served as Minister for Education in the Rawlings government from 1993 to 1997. There are prizes at the University of Ghana Medical School in his name. Aziz Zakari Olympic athlete Abdul Aziz Zakari is a Ghanaian athlete specializing in the 100 metres. He was born in Accra, Ghana. Participating in the 2000 Summer Olympics, he made it to the final of the 100 metres, but failed to finish after becoming injured at about the 35m mark. Also participating in the 2004 Summer Olympics, he achieved second place in his 100 metres heat, thus making it through to the second round. Heading into the second round, he was victorious in a tough sprint, before achieving qualification from his semi-final. This good form was not able to continue, as he failed to finish in the final, staged on August 22, renowned as possibly the fastest collective 100 metre race in history, where six of the seven finishing athletes completed the race in ten seconds or less.

He finally, for the first time, achieved a sub-10 second run on June 14, 2005 in Athens when he ran 9.99 seconds in Asafa Powell's world record breaking race. The Ghanaian record currently belongs to Leonard Myles-Mills with 9.98 seconds. In July 2006, Zakari was reported to have failed a drugs test for the banned substance stanozolol. The test was conducted In-Competition on 29 April 2006 at the IAAF Grand Prix Meeting in Dakar. On 25 September 2006 the IAAF suspended him for two years. After his suspension Zakari participated at the 2008 Summer Olympics in which he ran the fourth time in his 100 metres heat, behind Richard Thompson, Martial Mbandjock and Simone Collio. His time of 10.34 was the third losing time after the 10.25 of Nobuharu Asahara, advancing him to the second round. There he improved his time to 10.24, but was only finishing in fifth place of his heat, causing elimination.

Ignisious Gaisah Olympic Track and field Athlete Ignisious Gaisah is a Ghanaian born athlete competing in the long jump for the Netherlands. Gaisah moved to the Netherlands in 2001 and currently lives and trains in Rotterdam. He competes for P.A.C. Rotterdam. In 2005 jumped a personal best 8.34 metres to win the silver medal at the World Championships in Helsinki, finishing behind Dwight Phillips. On February 2, 2006, in Stockholm he leaped to an African indoor record that also won him the gold medal in this event by jumping 8.36 metres. He continued his good form to win the 2006 IAAF World Indoor Championships a month later with a jump of 8.30 metres, followed quickly by the 2006 Commonwealth Games gold medal with a jump of 8.20 metres.

At the 2006 African Championships in Athletics Gaisah won the gold medal with an 8.51 m jump, beating Cheick Touré's African record of 8.46 metres from 1997, but as the tail wind was too strong the result could not become a new record. Since July 2013 Gaisah officially competes for the Netherlands after gaining his Dutch passport. Sandeep Chowta Film score Artist Sandeep Chowta is an Indian music director who primarily works in Bollywood, Kannada films and Tollywood. He is also the head of Columbia Records in India. He has also sung some of his songs. In 2003, he produced an anti substance abuse documentary, titled Dead End, that was entered into numerous film festivals and was government acclaimed. This was produced by seventeen-year old college student and drug activist, Tanya Khubchandani. In 2004 Chowta invited Jay Oliver and Richard Gannaway of the world/new age musical group, Aomusic, to his Mumbai studio, and has since become one of the group's contributing producers.

Aomusic also features Miriam Stockley, the voice of Karl Jenkins' Adiemus project, and children’s choral ensembles from around the globe. Aomusic album releases crediting Chowta have charted in the top five internationally since 2009. When it comes to Tollywood, he has given music for 10 films of which Nagarjuna is associated with 5 films in some or the other way and Mohan babu has been involved with remaining 5 films. Lee Addy Soccer Lee Addy is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as left back for Croatian club Dinamo Zagreb of the Prva HNL on loan from Dalian Aerbin Jonathan Mensah Soccer Jonathan Mensah, commonly known simply as Jonathan, is a Ghanaian professional footballer who currently plays as a defender for Ligue 1 club Evian Thonon Gaillard F.C. in France and the Ghana national team. To avoid confusion with the similarly named but unrelated John Mensah, he is typically known as and plays with the name "Jonathan" on his shirt.

Isaac Vorsah Soccer Midfielder Isaac Vorsah is a Ghanaian international footballer who plays for Austrian Bundesliga club Red Bull Salzburg in Austria. Ahmed Barusso Soccer Midfielder Ahmed Apimah Barusso is a Ghanaian footballer who currently plays for Italian Serie B club Novara Calcio on loan from Serie A club Genoa as a defensive midfielder. Mohammed Rabiu Soccer Midfielder Mohammed Rabiu Alhassan is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who currently plays for Russian Premier League club FC Kuban Krasnodar, and the Ghana national team. Afriyie Acquah Soccer Midfielder Ebenezer Afriyie Acquah, simply known as Afriyie Acquah, is a Ghanaian professional footballer, currently playing for 1899 Hoffenheim. Young midfielder Afriyie Acquah is considered one of the great hopes of Ghanaian football. Walter Sabatini, former sports director of Palermo, compared him to Michael Essien. Akosua Busia Akosua Gyamama Busia is a Ghanaian actress who now lives in the U.S..

Razak Pimpong Soccer Midfielder Razak Pimpong is a Ghanaian footballer who is playing as an striker and attacking midfielder for the Danish 2nd Division West club Ringkøbing IF. He was very versatile and could also play wide either as a right sided midfielder or right winger. Harrison Afful Soccer Harrison Afful is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who currently plays as a defender for Tunisian Ligue Professionnelle 1 club Espérance Sportive de Tunis in Tunisia, and the Ghana national team. Kwame Ayew Soccer Forward Kwame Ayew is a Ghanaian retired footballer who played as a striker. During nearly 20 years he played professionally in six countries, mainly in Portugal where he appeared for four teams in the 90s, amassing top division totals of 130 games and 50 goals over the course of six seasons. Mahatma Otoo Soccer Forward Mahatma Osumanu Otoo is a Ghanaian footballer, who plays for the Norwegian Premier League club Sogndal. He was the 2012/13 Ghana Premier League top scorer with 20 goals.

Abdul Rahim Ayew Soccer Midfielder Abdul Rahim Ayew also known as Ibrahim Ayew is a Ghanaian footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder. Tsatsu Tsikata Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata is a Ghanaian academic and lawyer. He is also a former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. Eric Addo Soccer Defender Eric Kpakpo Addo is a Ghanaian footballer. Once heralded as a potential African great thanks to his combination of strength, pace and poise early on, Addo, a combative central defender who can also play as a defensive midfielder, had his budding career blighted by knee injuries. Mohammed Abu Soccer Midfielder Mohammed Abu is a Ghanaian international footballer who plays professionally for Danish club Aarhus, on loan from English parent club Manchester City, as a midfielder. Kofi Abrefa Busia Kofi Abrefa Busia was Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969 to 1972. John Boye Soccer Midfielder John Boye is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a defender and midfielder for Ligue 1 club Rennes, and the Ghana national team.

Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II Man Osei Tutu II, is the 16th King Asantehene of the Kingdom of Ashanti absolute monarchy and head of the Ashanti Royal house of the House of Beretuo Dynasty, King of Ashanti and the Ashanti people in Ashanti, Ghana. King Asantehene Osei Tutu II ascended the Golden Stool throne on 26 April 1999. By name, king Asantehene Osei Tutu II is in direct succession to the founder of the Empire of Ashanti, Otumfuo Osei Tutu I. Ignatius Kutu Acheampong Soldier General Ignatius Kutu Acheampong was a military head of state of Ghana who ruled from 13 January 1972 to 5 July 1978, when he was deposed in a palace coup. He was later executed by firing squad. Haminu Draman Soccer Midfielder Haminu Draman is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Portuguese club Gil Vicente F.C. as a midfielder.

Riga Mustapha Soccer Midfielder Rahamat Riga Mustapha, commonly known as Mustapha Riga, is a Ghanaian-born Dutch footballer who currently plays for Pune F.C. in the Indian I-League. He can play as either a winger or a striker. Laryea Kingston Soccer Midfielder Laryea Kingston is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays for Phoenix FC. He can play as either an attacking midfielder or right winger. Vida Anim Olympic athlete Vida Anim is a Ghanaian sprinter who specializes in the 100 and 200 metres. Together with Mavis Akoto, Monica Twum and Vida Nsiah she holds the Ghanaian record in 4 x 100 metres relay with 43.19 seconds, achieved during the heats at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. Anim represented Ghana at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing competing at the 100 metres sprint. In her first round heat she placed second behind Shelly-Ann Fraser in a time of 11.47 to advance to the second round.

There she improved her time to 11.32 seconds, finishing third behind Debbie Ferguson and Oludamola Osayomi. In the semi finals she was unable to qualify for the final as her time of 11.51 was only the eighth and last time of her heat, causing elimination. Illiasu Shilla Soccer Illiasu Shilla Alhassan is a Ghanaian football defender who is currently playing for Impuls Dilijan in Armenia. Gershon Koffie Soccer Midfielder Gershon Koffie is a Ghanaian national and Canadian Permanent Resident footballer who currently plays for Vancouver Whitecaps FC in Major League Soccer. Nanny of the Maroons Deceased Person Queen Nanny or Nanny, Jamaican National Hero, was a well-known leader of the Jamaican Maroons in the eighteenth century. Historical documents refer to her as the "rebels old obeah woman," and they legally grant "Nanny and the people now residing with her and their heirs . . . a certain parcel of Land containing five hundred acres in the parish of Portland . . .". Nanny Town was founded on this land. Much of what is known about Nanny comes from oral history as little textual evidence exists.

Prince Buaben Soccer Midfielder Prince Buaben is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who is currently playing for Football League One side Carlisle United. He arrived at Dundee United after being forced to leave AFC Ajax due to residency issues and has since been capped for Ghana and earned a Scottish Cup Winners medal when Dundee United lifted the trophy in 2010. Kwame Karikari Football player Kwame Amponsah Karikari is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Balıkesirspor on loan from AIK as a striker. Ibrahim Tanko Soccer Ibrahim Tanko is a scout and football manger, and a retired Ghana international footballer who played mostly as a forward. He played most of his 15-year professional career - blighted by injuries - in Germany, with Borussia Dortmund and Freiburg. Nana Akwasi Asare Soccer Midfielder Nana Akwasi Asare is a Ghanaian international footballer who plays professionally for Belgian club Gent, as midfielder. Derek Asamoah Soccer Midfielder Derek Asamoah is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who currently plays as a forward for K-League Classic club Daegu FC in South Korea and the Ghana national team.

He has previously played for clubs in England, France, Scotland and Bulgaria. Asamoah is a forward, known for his footspeed and dribbling ability. He can also operate on either wing, delivering sharp crosses, and as a second striker. Jessica Hart Author Jessica Hart is a British writer of over 55 romance novels in Mills & Boon. She is winner of the US RITA Award and the British RoNA Award. Amidu Salifu Soccer Midfielder Amidu Salifu is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Calcio Catania, on loan from ACF Fiorentina. Arthur Wharton Soccer Arthur Wharton is widely considered to be the first black professional association football player in the world. Though not the first black player outright - the amateur, and Scotland international player, Andrew Watson predated him - Wharton was the first black professional and the first to play in the Football League. Ransford Osei Soccer Forward Ransford Osei is a Ghanaian professional footballer, who plays as a striker for Glo Premier League club Asante Kotoko. He is part of Ghana national football team. Ayi Kwei Armah Ayi Kwei Armah is a Ghanaian writer.

Sarkodie Entertainer Sarkodie is a Ghanaian recording artist, entertainer, brand ambassador and a BET Awards 2012 Best International Act winner. He is also referred to as Obidi Pon Bidi. Many Ghanaian people recognize him as a leading Hip hop and Hip Life artist. He is considered a major proponent of the Azonto genre and dance. Sarkodie was born on 10 July 1988 to his mother, Emma Maame Aggrey, a single parent and raised in Tema, being the fourth out of five children. Yussif Chibsah Soccer Midfielder Yussif Chibsah is a Ghanaian football midfielder, who is currently playing for Djurgårdens IF in Sweden. Ike Quartey Professional Boxer Ike "Bazooka" Quartey is a former WBA Welterweight champion boxer. He has fought numerous world champion boxers including Oscar De La Hoya, Fernando Vargas, Vernon Forrest and Ronald "Winky" Wright. Ama Ata Aidoo Professor Ama Ata Aidoo, née Christina Ama Aidoo is a Ghanaian author, playwright and academic.

Charles Takyi Soccer Midfielder Charles Kwame Takyi is a Ghanaian footballer, currently playing for 2. Bundesliga side FC Energie Cottbus. World Countries BBC World Service - Africa - Michael Essien BBC World Service Last updated: 27 november, 2009 - 17:55 GMT Michael Essien Michael Essien is one of the best performers in world football and his contribution to both club and country in 2009 will go down as one of his best. Even though he started the year on the injury list, he returned to inspire his stumbling Chelsea side to win some silverware and to aid Ghana's qualification for the 2010 World Cup. His importance to Chelsea was underlined as the Blues struggled in his absence even though they had key players like Didier Drogba, Frank Lampard and Nicholas Anelka. Chelsea were unable to keep pace with the Premier League's leaders Liverpool and Manchester United without Essien, which resulted in the sacking of Brazilian manager Luis Felipe Scolari in February.

Essien's return to fitness in April amply demonstrated his importance as Chelsea turned the corner in dramatic fashion to reignite their bids for silverware at the end of last season. They eventually won the FA Cup, finishing an impressive third in the league and were eliminated in the semi-finals of the Champions League under controversial circumstances as the season came to an end in May. This season he has already helped Chelsea to beat Manchester United to win the season-opening Charity Shield title and has so far scored six goals for the Blues. Essien returned to Ghana in September to score for the Black Stars as they beat Sudan 2-0 to become the first African country to qualify for the 2010 World Cup. His value to a team can hardly be overstated. Essien's versatility has come in handy for Ghana and Chelsea. His ability to play in both central and wide midfield roles as well as an emergency centre-back and right back makes him unique.

Question: In which African country was Michael Essien born?
Answer: Ghana