Authorities say Bamenda 97% ready to receive Pope Leo XIV.

Members of the Vatican security landed at the Bamenda Airport on Sunday, April 12, 2026. Accompanied by authorities of the Region, they had a guided tour of the airport to access its readiness and security measures.

Speaking after an inspection tour at the Bamenda airport and the Cathedral, two sites where the Pope will meet with the population, the General Coordinator of the Pope’s visit to Cameroon, Okie Johnson, said preparations are at 97% ahead of the highly anticipated visit.

“From the last visit and what we have seen today, I want to say that Bamenda is 97% ready to receive the Pope. We landed safely at the airport. You need to be in the air to see what we saw in Bamenda today,” Okie said.

“All I can say now is for the population and Christians to join the authorities and the archdiocese to finish the little things remaining. It’s a collective work and we want everybody to be involved,” Okie added. 

He also noted that minor adjustments in terms of protocol and cleaning are lacking. But he assured that everything will be at 100% before the final day.

According to the Governor of the North West Region, Adolphe Lele Lafrique, the Bamenda Airport has received a facelift and is ready to receive the Pope. The Governor also noted that the majority of the recommendations outlined ahead of the event have been attained. 

“The airport has been renovated and is ready to receive the flights during and hopefully after the Pope’s visit. As far as hygiene and sanitation are concerned, material organisation and protocols, we’re going to make sure we implement them to the fullest before the Pope lands in Bamenda,” the Governor said.

On his part, the Archbishop of Bamenda, His Grace Andrew Nkea, said the Pope’s visit is one of the greatest things that could happen to a people who have been engulfed by close to a decade of conflict. 

“The Holy Father is coming to Bamenda in a situation of great difficulty where we have been living. We have been living in conflict for many years. We have seen a lot of suffering, killings, and for the Holy Father to decide to visit Bamenda, we cannot ask him for more. This is the biggest thing that could happen to us. While we’re still in the difficulties, the Holy Father decided to come and share our pain with us and to console us to preach peace to us,” the Archbishop said.

The City Mayor of Bamenda, Paul Achobong, said the readiness is thanks to the Christians of the town and the population.

“Practically we’re ready and we’re grateful to all who have been contributing to this success. Camair-Co is already here; the settings and other things are being done. I want to thank everyone who has been involved,” Achobong said. 

“The Mankon people are ready. We will come out in our numbers to welcome the Pope. Just the fact that he will be stepping his legs on the Mankon land is already a huge blessing,” an elite from Mankon said. 

While preparations are underway at the Bamenda airport, the same scenario is happening at the Cathedral, where Christians, and most importantly the choir, are practicing on a daily basis. 

In terms of road and infrastructure, BUNS Construction Company is currently working day and night on the road linking the Bamenda cathedral to Hospital Roundabout, Mankon, and to the airport. This is the stretch of road that the Pope will use by land. 

Though authorities say everything is ready even in terms of security, there have been some explosions and mass arrests by security forces in the city within the past days. This is said to have paralyzed many night activities and businesses. 

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3761 of Wednesday April 15, 2026