Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan says he proud to be using his hard earned money from China to help the community.

The Black Stars captain was subtly criticized for his decision to join Shanghai SIPG after being made a mammoth offer by the Chinese club.

Gyan was already on a fat salary in the UAE where he played for Al Ain.

His move to Asia first in 2011 was widely criticized with many labeling him as a mercenary who lacks ambition of playing in the more competitive leagues in Europe.

But Gyan who has made unimaginable fortune in the Middle East and now in the Far East says he is using part of his wealth to help the community.

“If people think I went to China for the money, yes, but I am giving back to the community,” he said.

“I make sure I do my job wholeheartedly so if they think I went there for the money, ok, I got the money so what do they have to say about that.”

The former Sunderland ace on Thursday broke grounds for the construction of an Astroturf at his former school Accra Academy in a project that is worth over $184,000.

A week, prior to this, Gyan rewarded the gold-winning Black Queens team with $30,000 after dishing out $10,000 to the same team at the start of their campaign at the 2015 All Africa Games.