Ghana Football Association President, Kwasi Nyantakyi and his Vice President Fred Pappoe are urging football fans and all to vote for national midfielder Michael Essien and win for him the BBC African Footballer of the Year award. Essien has been short listed for the high profile award to be conducted between 1600 hours and 1655 hours on (Friday Jan 5th, 2007) alongside his Chelsea playmate Didier Drogba and Egyptian Mohamed Aboutrika. For Nyantakyi, whose position has brought him into close contact with arguably the three most popular players from the continent today, Essien is the obvious choice “not because he is a Ghanaian or I want to be merely patriotic, but on merit.” “He is just the best player. I love them all for their individual skills and style of play but I also cherish Essien. He has been very instrumental and his performance during the World Cup, especially against the Czechs which won him the best player plays back in my mind continually.” And for Fred Pappoe, “Essien is the ideal professional footballer. His commitment alone speaks volumes and for me that puts him ahead of the others.” “How often do you see him walk off the field of play because of an injury? Even in pain Essien will play and give of his best. And you will never have disciplinary problems with him, just the good example in any team.” Pappoe told myjoyonline.com that in the number of years that he has worked with Essien, the player’s "dedication to duty and extreme commitment on the field of play have been exemplary and he will do everything to ensure his side gets the best of results, which for me, ought to be the defining factor. I will vote for him any day.” Several callers to Joy FM’s Super Morning Show told host Kojo Oppong-Nkrumah that Essien deserves the award. For the first time in the history of the award, which is in its sixth year, the winner will be announced after a live public vote during the acclaimed BBC World Service sports programme, Fast Track. The three-man final shortlist was drawn up from a combination of online and postal public votes, with input from the BBC's panel of experts. Listeners will be able to cast their votes by phone and text between 1600 and 1655 GMT, with the winner revealed just before the show goes off air. This is a significant departure from the voting procedure used in previous years, and is directed towards ensuring greater transparency and fairness. HERE IS WHAT TO DO FOR ESSIEN Stand by your phones between 1600 and 1700 GMT on Friday, and text V – E to text number +447786202008. Previous winners of the BBC African Footballer of the Year include Samuel Osei Kuffour of Ghana, Senegal's El-Hadji Diouf and Nigeria's Jay Jay Okocha who was voted the best twice, in 2003 and 2004. Egyptian star Mohamed Barakat won it in 2005.