Ghanaian midfielder takes ex-lover to court in homeland

Michael Essien is suing a woman who claims to be his wife. Dela Ackumey, an ex-girlfriend of Essien’s, alleges that the Chelsea man had performed customary marriage rites while they were together. At first I thought this might be a euphemism. It’s not but the truth is equally entertaining.

The allegations against Essien are that he rolled up at the house of Ackumey’s parents with a couple of bottles of Schnapps and some Ghanaian currency, and the couple were given advice on their relationship. This, according to my brief research, is the essence of the customary marriage rites. Seriously.

Essien disputes this and is seeking a restraining order to prevent the woman from ‘holding herself as his wife’. Ackumey says she has video evidence to prove that the customary rites took place, while Essien claims that the rites do not amount to marriage in Ackumey’s Anlo tribe. Confusing or what?

Understandably, his current partner is not too pleased about this ‘wife’. Anyway, the biggest impact from a Chelsea point-of-view is that Essien has insisted on appearing at an Accra Fast Track High Court in person. Presumably he is hoping this will take place over the summer.

More on Essien’s happy relationship with Ackumey courtesy of NOTW

UPDATE: Some sources are now claiming that Ackumey brought the case before the court to seek a divorce settlement. Who knows? Who cares? What we know for sure is that Essien is involved in a court case that boils down to whether handing Schnapps to someone’s parents constitutes marriage!