Gôl for Ghana – June 2026
Wales were not heading for the World Cup finals in America but that didn’t stop us from kicking on as usual. As the Wales national team took on Ghana in a friendly match in Cardiff, Gôl Cymru! gave £1000 to COMPASS-Ghana, a small charity helping children and families facing life-threatening illness and bereavement in rural Ghana.
COMPASS-Ghana works in the Ashanti Region helping families through nurse-led care, home visits and bereavement support led by community volunteers. Last year 13 children and adolescents, around one fifth of patients supported by the programme, were living with conditions including cancer, congenital illness and HIV-related disease,
Many of the families supported work hard simply to get by but access to medicines, transport and healthcare can be extremely difficult. Children are often deeply affected, witnessing suffering at home while also having to help care for parents or grandparents.
Recently, the programme supported Ernest, a young man living with advanced nasopharyngeal cancer. By the time the team became involved his illness was already very advanced. Although the outcome could not be changed the team was able to support Ernest and his family with medicines and bereavement care during the final stages of his illness.
John Davies of COMPASS-Ghana said: “Football means everything in many Ghanaian communities. Even in the poorest villages, children will always find somewhere to play. It brings hope, identity and togetherness. To know that Welsh supporters are thinking about children and families here in Ghana is genuinely moving for all of us. This donation of £1000 and the kindness and solidarity shown by Gôl Cymru! will make a real difference.”