ACCRA - CHELSEA'S midfielder Michael Essien has been named Ghana Footballer of the Year after a media poll here.

A couple of other midfielders in the national 'Black Stars' team, Sulley Muntari of Inter Milan and Laryea Kingston of Hearts, came second and third respectively, reports said.

Essien, a regular African Footballer of the Year finalist, has been sidelined since mid-year after suffering an injury playing for Ghana against Libya in a 2010 World Cup-African Nations Cup qualifier. -- AFP