West Africa Section
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    • West Africa Section

    Welcome

    Presentation of the section

    The West Africa Section comprises 9 countries: Côte d’Ivoire, where the head office has been located since 1967, Burkina Faso, Benin, Guinea Conakry, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal and Togo. Since the RECOWA (Regional Episcopal Conference of West Africa) is the managing community and has merged with the English-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries of West Africa, the section has been able to open itself up to those countries that are interested in the mutual society.

    The Section has 6,817 affiliate members from 44 dioceses, 100 male and female congregations, 11 monasteries, 16 New Communities, 9 Academic Units and institutions of the RECOWA.

    Our offices are located on the RECOWA’s premises, the location of permanent meetings of Bishops, priests and religious. As such, we welcome affiliate members every day for a variety of reasons, either regarding membership, assistance, advice, guidance, convalescence rest, etc.… or simply to say hello and discover the head office of their mutual society if they come from other countries and are passing through Côte d’Ivoire.

    We are encouraged and supported by the Bishops of the RECOWA and all its Institutions who pass by and discover the IMS close up.

     

     

    CONTACT THE SECTION
    Sœur Konan est responsable de la Section Ouest Afrique depuis le 14 septembre 2026.

    Sister Konan

    Sister Konan, Head of the West Africa Section

     

    I am Sister Nadine AKISSI KONAN, a nun in the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Apostles, born on 10 July 1983 in Abidjan (Ivory Coast). I took my first vows on 28 July 2012 in Abengourou, Côte d’Ivoire, and my perpetual vows on 27 October 2018, also in Côte d’Ivoire, specifically in Abidjan. I was sent on mission to Ghana from 2012 to 2014, and then to Benin from 2014 to 2021. I have been based in Grand-Bassam (Côte d’Ivoire) on mission since 2021. I studied Auditing and Management Control at the Catholic University of West Africa in Cotonou, Benin.

    I am originally from Dimbokro, in the Diocese of Yamoussoukro. I come from a modest family of six children, of whom I am the third. My father’s name is Mr KONAN KONAN and my mother’s is KONE Agnès. My family are Catholic. My family lives in Abidjan; my father is retired after working for 30 years at the Grand-Moulin d’Abidjan company.

    Today, I give thanks to God for choosing me. I take to heart the words of the Gospel of Saint John, chapter 15, verse 9, which read: “You did not choose me, but I chose you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and whatever you ask the Father in my name, he will give you.” There is nothing more beautiful than serving the Lord. I remain confident in this new adventure with Christ, and I am ready to go to the ends of the earth to proclaim the Gospel through the mission the Lord has entrusted to me. May the Lord’s grace never fail me, and may his mercy be poured out upon the earth. Am

    Sister Eugenie Dena

    Former manager of the West Africa section

    Every year we have new members and those who retire to experience their own insurance or who adhere to the country’s health coverage. There are certainly financial difficulties for some groups, but the spirit of solidarity and sharing is well played out among members who encourage each other. At the meetings of the Major Superiors a lot of exchange and experience are made on the IMS and this earns us invitations.

    Participations in diocesan days only in Ivory Coast given the health crisis. We have very regular contacts with local hospitals and clinics and even in some countries of the section. A background work to do and to follow.

    We have reception centres accredited by the IMS for rest convalescence (Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo). Six (6) CERAO chambers are approved and made available to the IMS and allow affiliates to spend their rest convalescent from other countries. They are accompanied humanly, spiritually and financially by the help of the social fund. This has become a real pastoral for our section. A social funds commission that meets at least twice a year for this purpose.

    We are encouraged and supported by the Bishops of CERAO and all its institutions that pass through and discover the IMS up close.

    Sister Rolande

    West Africa Section

    Daughter of the Heart of Mary

    Since I was in training, I have always heard the word IMS, without really knowing what it meant. Later, our superiors informed us that the province of Africa was no longer enrolled with the IMS.  We were sorry. For years, we remained without being members. We tried to join mutual societies, however we remained unsatisfied until the day, at an Assembly of major superiors in Dassa Zoumè, Benin, I met Sister Dena, Head of an IMS Section. She presented the Association so well, it transfixed me. I had personal conversations with her. 

    I talked with some of the institutes that are members and which praised the West Africa IMS, so I discussed the topic with my sisters who were in favour of joining. 

     

    I can count on Sister Dena for responsible, fraternal and understanding participatory membership with respect and collaboration. 

    All for the greater glory of God. In great union. 

     

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