Posted: Monday, November 9, 2009     Source: kickoff

Essien Foundation inspired by brother

Michael Essien says the death of his brother is the inspiration behind his idea to set up the Michael Essien Foundation later this week.

The Chelsea star will launch the foundation with a cocktail dinner at State House in Accra just before the World Cup qualifier in Kumasi.

"Hopefully I can do something to help the village I grew up in," he told the BBC. "It is 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. I never got the chance to meet him before he dies but I learned later he died when looking for water for the family to live by.

"So that is why I came up with this foundation to help the communities develop amenities and give them opportunities to do something."

Amongst the guests lined up for the launch of the foundation are former world player of the year George Weah and Ghana’s vice president John Mahama.