Michael Essien Michael Essien Michael Kojo Essien (sometimes written in French: Michaël Essien) (born 3 December 1982) is a Ghanaian professional footballer. He has also been capped for the Ghana national team more than 50 times. Essien started his career playing for Liberty Professionals in Ghana. In 2000, he moved to France to join Bastia, where he would spend three seasons and appear in over 60 matches before joining Ligue 1 title holders Lyon in 2003. At Lyon, Essien won back-to-back league titles in 2003–04 and 2004–05 and also played in the UEFA Champions League for the first time. During his five-year
Nduese Essien on Internal Affairs and Women Affairs. In 2003, he was appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Anti-Corruption, National Ethics and Values. He was also appointed Chairman of the Nigerian Chapter of the African Parliamentarians Network against Corruption, and was later elected Regional Director in Charge of West Africa. After leaving office in 2007, he was a member of the National Technical Assessment Committee on the Niger Delta region. Following his 6 April 2010 appointment as Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Essien said land reform and provision of housing were key items in the administration's seven-point agenda. On