Former national soccer player Gerald Asamoah has been awarded the Federal Cross of Merit.
He is a special “bridge builder between Ghana and Germany,” said Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Asamoah received the medal in Accra, the capital of his native Ghana. The 47-year-old is currently accompanying Steinmeier on his trip to Africa as a special guest.
Award for helping children with heart disease
The former Bundesliga professional was honored for his contribution to German-Ghanaian friendship and for his “Gerald Asamoah Foundation for children with heart disease” founded in 2007, as Steinmeier said. A particular focus of the foundation’s work is Ghana. “The foundation regularly brings German medical staff to Ghana.” The doctors, nurses and nurses performed operations and saved children’s lives.
Steinmeier also pointed out that Asamoah is also an ambassador for the “School without Racism” project. “This is something you can now wear day and night,” he said jokingly to Asamoah after the medal was awarded – who then took a deep breath.
Asamoah feels “pure joy”
Asamoah was born in Ghana and came to Germany at the age of twelve. He has a heart defect himself. Asamoah played for Hannover 96 and FC Schalke 04, among others. In 2002 he became runner-up with the German national team.
“I still can’t believe that I’m getting something like this. But it’s just pure joy,” said Asamoah, who was so excited that he dropped the award certificate shortly after handing it over.
When asked about his feelings, he said: “It’s just pride that the work I do is worth it.” The award is an incentive to keep going. “When God blesses someone, you have to try to give something back.”