Chelsea star Michael Essien will do what no other Ghanaian soccer star has ever done when he brings down a host of top football stars to Accra tomorrow for the football game aimed at fostering peace in Africa.
The 28 year old Ghana international was appointed Peace Ambassador by the African Union (AU) last year and has shown his maturity by granting interviews and creating awareness of peace since. But top of the list will be Wednesday’s big match.
It not only shows Essien’s maturity and willingness to take up responsibilities, the Ghanaian soccer star is also fast establishing himself as a role model for youth not only in Ghana but Africa as a whole through his Michael Essien Foundation.
His management team has also done a great job organizing and arranging everything for the match to come alive which has been rightly acknowledged by the AU, who are themselves sending a high powered delegation to attend the game.
“The Africa Eleven vs. World Eleven game for peace is an inspiring initiative which makes the African Union very proud. It shows the commitment of our football stars to contribute, in their own way, and by their own means, to our common goal to make peace happen in Africa.
“This initiative is a beautiful demonstration of leadership that we support and commend in the highest terms” said Jean Ping, Chairperson of the AU Commission.
A statement released by Thabo Mbeki - former South African President read; “Making Peace Happen is an initiative that must be owned by everyone of us. It must involve role models from every segment of society who have demonstrated their personal commitment to this cause, to lift our spirits and to inspire us to work for peace.
“The Africa 11 vs. World 11 is a concrete demonstration of the level of increased mobilization of our people for peace.”
