Commemorating Christmas: The First Lady prays with the Catholic christians in Assinie-Mafia

Mr Eugène Aka Aouélé, President of the Economic, Social, Environmental and Cultural Council, Mr Pierre René Magne, Mayor of Assinie and many other local officials and executives from the South Comoe region, as well as the people of Assinie present in large numbers, headed by King Awoulae Fian Mossou V, King of the Essouman.

Mrs Dominique Ouattara took this opporutnity to wish all Ivorians a Merry Christmas. She expressed the wish that children would be blessed during the Nativity night. She also had a thought for those in need. “I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and also all the children. I hope they will receive some gifts today or tomorrow morning. Remember them, and take care of those in need”, said the First Lady.

Donations worth 38 million F CFA for the local community

First Lady Dominique Ouattara did not travel to Assinie empty-handed.  The wife of the Head of State offered living and non-living goods of 30 million F CFA. In addition to these gifts, she donated 8 million F CFA to the Catholic clergy and the people of Assinie-Mafia. The First Lady presented gifts worth a total of 38 million F CFA to the Catholic clergy of the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church and to the people of Assinie-Mafia.

300 million F CFA for the rehabilitation of the parish 

Mrs Yao Patricia Sylvie, the Chief of Staff to the First Lady and spokeswoman, recalled the affectionate ties that have bound the wife of the Head of State to this seaside town for almost 30 years. Indeed, it was in the name of this love for Assinie that the First Lady interceded with the President of the Republic for the rehabilitation of the St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Church destroyed by a tornado in 2020. According to her, the rehabilitation work cost a total of 300 million F CFA. Mrs Yao Patricia Sylvie also recalled the First Lady’s many requests for help on behalf of the people of Assinie-Mafia.

Pierre René Magne, the city Mayor, thanked the First Lady on behalf of his constituents for all her generosity towards the population. Father Bilé Evariste also thanked the First Lady for the rehabilitation of his parish. “You are an open-handed person”, he said.

The church service was presided over by Father Jean Bonzo, Vicar General of the Diocese of Grand-Bassam, representing Bishop Ahoua Raymond, Bishop of the Diocese of Grand-Bassam. Indeed, the man of God recalled the importance of God’s love for human kind and the meaning of the Nativity. For him, everything is love. it is through the power of love that everything is possible. So it was out of love for man that God became flesh to come and live among his creation. He invited Catholic Christians to go to get closer to Jesus, to enter into his intimacy in order to love him more.