Audio By Carbonatix
Chelsea star Michael Essien has told the BBC how his brother's death inspired him to set up a charity in his native Ghana.
The Michael Essien Foundation will be launched on 14 November, just before Ghana's final 2010 qualifying match.
"Hopefully I can do something to help the village where I grew up," he told the BBC World Service.
"It's about 30 minutes outside Accra, where I grew up with my four sisters and my Mum.
"The most important thing for me to set up this foundation was my late brother," Essien said.
"I never got the chance to meet him before he died but I learned later he died when looking for water for the family to live by.
"So that's why I came up with this foundation to help the communities, develop the amenities and give them opportunities to do something."
The charity will be launched at Ghana's State House in Accra, with guests ranging from the country's Vice-President to the former World Footballer of the Year George Weah.
Essien and some of his Ghana team mates will also be there, a day before they meet Mali in the last game of Africa's marathon road to South Africa 2010.
The Black Stars secured their place in South Africa some time ago and Essien says he's hoping to help them go a long way at the global showpiece next year.
He missed their last game at a World Cup finals, the defeat against Brazil in Germany 2006, because of suspension.
"To me it was one of the biggest games of my life but that's football, you have to accept it and move forward," he told the BBC.
"I'm looking forward to another great tournament next year so hopefully I can play all the games and see what happens."
Source: Book
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Jail corrupt officials in galamsey fight – Haruna Iddrisu to Judiciary
8 minutes -
Walewale MP dismisses forest mining ban as a superficial response to galamsey
20 minutes -
Chiefs must be central to galamsey fight – National House of Chiefs President
26 minutes -
Youth joblessness a security risk as 1.3m remain idle – Opare Addo
30 minutes -
You can’t levy athletes to Fund Sports Bill – Former Sports Minister
31 minutes -
Adu-Boahene trial: Testimony of prosecution witness favouring our defence – Atta Akyea
32 minutes -
Attorney-General lauds EOCO’s Executive Director
32 minutes -
Eastern Regional FDA undertakes operation against unregistered baby diapersÂ
35 minutes -
Local Government Ministry steps up unannounced sanitation inspections ahead of Christmas
39 minutes -
Parliament passes National Health Insurance Fund Amendment Bill
44 minutes -
Government remains unshakable in retooling security agencies – Interior Minister
51 minutes -
 Unemployment eases to 12.8% in Q3 2025 – GSSÂ
52 minutes -
Ablakwa commissions six new buses to ease transport burden of Foreign Affairs Ministry staff
57 minutes -
Mahama pledges expanded support for exporters at GEPA awards
1 hour -
Vice President reaffirms government support for trade and industrial growth
1 hour
