Society

Pope’s visit: West region governor rallies collaborators to ensure safety of pilgrims.

by Morine Tanyi
28 Mar 2026 01:32
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Governor Awa Fonka during meeting with administrative, security officials

The workaholic, unassuming and results-driven Governor of the West Region, Awa Fonka Augustine, has mobilised his collaborators to ensure the safety of pilgrims who will be travelling when Pope Leo XIV comes visiting Cameroon from April 15 to 18, 2026.

The meeting, which took place in Bafoussam recently, grouped administrative, municipal and security officials. Heads of key sectors such as health, public works, tourism, telecommunications, and utilities, representatives of major service providers such as Cameroon Telecommunications, CAMTEL; Energy of Cameroon, ENEO; and Cameroon Water Utilities Corporation, CAMWATER; also attended the meeting.

The Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Bafoussam, Monsignor Clovis Douanla, was also in attendance.

Speaking during the meeting, the Governor said the goal is to ensure the smooth and secure passage of pilgrims through the West Region during the Papal visit.

Awa Fonka emphasised the strategic importance of the West Region as a transit corridor for thousands of pilgrims expected to travel to and from different parts of the country.

He said the West Region will serve as a crucial link between the Ecclesiastical Province of Douala in the Littoral Region and the Archdiocese of Bamenda in the North West Region.

The Super Scale Administrator outlined a series of firm measures to guarantee security to ensure smooth traffic flow along major routes in the West Region.

He said during the concertation, that security forces have been placed on alert to manage crowds and maintain order. Public works teams are, he noted, expected to address road conditions to facilitate safety on the roads.

Health facilities across the West Region, he stated, have also been put on standby to handle any emergencies. Governor Awa Fonka also insisted on the continuous availability of water and electricity throughout the period.

The coordinated efforts, he enthused, aim to uphold the dignity, safety, and spiritual experience of pilgrims and delegates when Pope Leo comes visiting.

During his three-day stay in Cameroon, the Pope, according to an official programme released recently, will be in Bamenda. He is programmed to say a mass at the Bafut Airport and meet with stakeholders at the Mankon Cathedral in Bamenda.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3740 of Wednesday March 25, 2026