As a result, the AOS Province is bilingual, which presents a significant challenge in its operations and communication.

Early Salesian Presence in the Region

The first Salesians arrived in the countries now comprising the AOS Province, establishing communities in:

• Monrovia (Liberia, 1979)
• Duékoué (Côte d'Ivoire, 1981)
• Porto-Novo (Benin, 1981)
• Sikasso and Touba (Mali, 1981)
• Korhogo (Côte d'Ivoire, 1982)
• Lomé Gbényedzi (Togo, 1982)
• Akure and Ondo (Nigeria, 1982)
• Tappita (Liberia, 1982)

Despite an earlier and more consistent Salesian presence in the French-speaking West African countries, both former provinces (AFW and AFO) were canonically established only in 2012.

Missionary Contributions and Expansion

The Salesian missions in these areas were supported by various provinces:

• AFO Province received assistance from the provinces of Sevilla, Madrid, Bilbao, and Leon (Spain).
• AFW Province was supported by Great Britain (Liberia), the United States (SUO, Sierra Leone), Italy (ICP and IAD, Nigeria), and Germany (GEK, Ghana). Statistics of the AOS Province

The AOS Province comprises 183 Salesians, of whom:

• 43 are outside the province for study (32) & work (11).
• 97 are priests.
• 3 are coadjutor brothers.
• 6 are deacons.
• 11 are novices.
• 56 are students in formation.

The 11 novices are distributed across the two novitiates in the province:

• English-speaking novitiate in Sunyani, Ghana.
• French-speaking novitiate in Gbodjomé, Togo.

Salesian Communities and Institutions

The province consists of 18 canonically established communities and 3 additional presences (in Liberia, Ghana, and Togo). The Salesian works include:

• 20 youth centers and oratories, serving about 7,000 young people.
• 17 parishes and 2 quasi-parishes, serving approximately 45,000 people.
• 13 educational institutions (5 primary schools, 7 secondary schools, and 1 high school), educating around 8,600 students.
• 1 university, with about 200 students.
• 7 hostels, housing approximately 650 young people.
• 6 Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) centers, serving about 2,800 students.
• 5 child protection centers and 1 family home, assisting around 3,000 children.
• 2 novitiates, with 38 novices in total this year (11 from AOS Province).
• 1 post-novitiate, with 58 students (13 from AOS Province).
• 5 clinics.
• 4 informal schools, serving about 400 students.
• 2 kindergartens.

The Salesian Family in AOS Province

Consists of seven groups:

• Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB): 183 members.
• Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (FMA): 49 members.
• Salesian Cooperators (ASC): 130 members.
• Association of Devotees of Mary Help of Christians (ADMA): 150 members.
• Past Pupils of Don Bosco (ExDB): 1,000 members.
• Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDB): 3 members.
• Community Missions of Don Bosco (CMB): 1 member.

The ADMA is well established in the French-speaking countries, while an effort is currently being made to form a group in Sunyani (Ghana). The CMB had initiated a project in Tema New Town (Ghana), supporting a poor fishing community with high school dropout rates. However, most members have since relocated to Italy, leaving just one member to continue the project.

Salesian Family Presence by Country

The distribution of Salesian Family members across the province is as follows:

• Togo: 1,000 members.
• Ghana: 450 members.
• Côte d'Ivoire: 120 members.
• Liberia: 40 members.
• Sierra Leone: 30 members.  

Past Pupils of Don Bosco in West Africa lack structured activities to strengthen their connection to the Salesian Family. Salesians are working to establish deeper ties with these young people.

Among the major initiatives in the province, two projects stand out:

1. The Street Children Project in Sierra Leone: Currently supporting approximately 800 children with the help of a 100-member staff.
2. Solar Energy Project: Aimed at assisting Salesian communities across Africa with the installation of solar power systems, as well as offering training and maintenance courses on the subject.

Through these initiatives, the AOS Province continues to fulfil the Salesian mission of providing education, pastoral care, and social support to thousands of young people in West Africa.

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