Former Germany international Gerald Asamoah was awarded the country’s Order of Merit on Monday, with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier honouring him as a “bridge builder” between his native Ghana and Germany.
Asamoah, who is currently accompanying the German head of state on a multi-day visit to several African countries, was presented with the Federal Cross of Merit – Germany’s highest civilian honour given for outstanding service to the nation – in Accra.
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The former Bundesliga striker was honoured for his contribution to German-Ghanaian friendship and for the work of the Gerald Asamoah Foundation for Children with Heart Disease, which he founded in 2007.
“The foundation regularly sends German medical personnel to Ghana,” Steinmeier noted, with doctors, nurses and carers performing life-saving operations.
The ex-footballer, who suffers from a heart condition himself, also works with a project that aims to tackle racism at German schools.
“I still can’t believe I’ve received something like this,” an excited Asamoah said at the awards ceremony in Accra, dropping the certificate shortly after it was handed to him.
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“But it’s just pure joy,” he added.
Asamoah, 47, was born in Ghana and moved to Germany at age 12.
Besides stints at Hanover and Schalke, he made 43 appearances for Germany between 2001 and 2006. Asamoah retired from professional football in 2015.