Belife Insurance honours employees’ dedication, professionalism.

A total of 90 labour medals comprising, seven gold, 46 silver, 37 silver-gilt medals were handed to the workers. 

The Minister of Labour and Social Security, Grégoire Owona, presided the ceremony in Douala on September 11, 2026. Government and administrative officials, Belife Insurance management, employees, families of the recipients and other guests attended the event.  

Minister Grégoire Owona said the medals go beyond the presentation of a distinction. He said they are an expression of the nation’s gratitude to workers who have contributed to the life of their companies, wealth creation and the development of the national economy.

“Through each of the medals that will be presented today, it is therefore a professional journey that is being recognised,” the minister said, stressing that loyalty, accumulated experience, dignity of work and professional merit were at the heart of the recognition.

He said the ceremony reaffirmed government’s commitment to promoting a genuine culture of merit, recognition and appreciation of human capital in companies operating in Cameroon.

Minister Owona said the company cannot be defined merely by its infrastructure, capital or financial results.

“Above all, it relies on women and men who, every day, place their skills, energy and experience at the service of its performance,” he said.

The minister congratulated the management of Belife Insurance and staff. He encouraged the company, to within its means, maintain internal mechanisms for recognising and valuing its workforce.

People at the heart of Belife

In his address, Belife Insurance Group Chief Executive Officer, CEO, Eddie Ford Brown, said the ceremony carried particular significance for a company whose history has evolved through several major phases.

Brown, who said he had witnessed the growth and evolution of the company from a young age, highlighted the responsibility of preserving its legacy while building a stronger future.

He said Belife’s success should not be measured only by financial performance, market growth or business expansion, but also by the contribution of the women and men whose talent, discipline, resilience and commitment drive the organisation.

“Our people are not simply part of our success; they are the foundation upon which it is built,” he said.

The CEO recalled the company’s journey from ALICO to Beneficial and today to Belife Insurance, describing the evolution as part of a heritage on which the company continues to build.

He said Belife Insurance currently has 215 permanent employees, supported by approximately 50 temporary employees and interns. The official said the company’s ambition is to build a high-performing and sustainable organisation in which people remain its greatest competitive advantage.

He cited professional development, leadership, internal mobility, equal opportunity and talent advancement among the areas in which the company intends to continue investing.

The CEO also highlighted gender representation within the organisation, noting that women account for 51 percent of BELIFE’s workforce and 40 percent of its leadership positions.

“This reflects our belief that diversity and inclusive leadership strengthen our organisation and contribute to sustainable success,” he said.

Over the years, Belife has continued to contribute to Cameroon’s social and economic development through initiatives in financial education, youth empowerment, health awareness, community development and partnerships with universities.

Call for regular recognition

Speaking on behalf of the workforce, Staff Representative, Ella Carine, described the ceremony as a moment of “recognition, gratitude and appreciation of work”.

She said the 71 decorated employees represented more than years of service, describing their careers as stories of perseverance, loyalty and daily contribution to collective performance.

“Receiving a medal of labour is not simply receiving a distinction. It is seeing recognised a part of oneself given to an organisation, a mission, a team,” she said.

Ella also used the occasion to revisit the history of the company, tracing its transformation through ALICO, Beneficial Insurance, Prudential Beneficial Insurance and, since 2026, Belife Insurance.

She said that despite the changes in ownership, identity and organisational structure, one reality had remained constant: the strength of the company lies in its women and men. The staff representative, however, raised a concern over the intervals between medal ceremonies.

Pointing to previous ceremonies held in 2009 and 2021, before the 2026 event, she called for Labour Honour Medal ceremonies to be organised regularly, ideally every five years.

She said such regularity would help ensure that professional commitment is recognised in a timely manner, strengthen staff motivation and perpetuate a culture of recognition.

Minister responds…

Responding to the request, Minister Owona acknowledged the importance of celebrating professional merit but clarified that the organisation of formal Labour Honour Medal ceremonies also depends on employers’ organisational and budgetary capacities.

He said the issue should therefore be addressed through dialogue, consultation and shared responsibility. The minister nevertheless told the recipients that their recognition carried an additional responsibility.

“Your merit is being publicly recognised today,” he said, adding that the distinction should inspire the recipients to become role models of exemplary conduct for younger generations of workers and those who have not yet met the conditions for receiving such honours.

The CEO in an interview, congratulated the medal recipients, saying their distinctions reflected the value they had created, the challenges they had overcome and the impact they had made while embodying Belife’s values of proximity, empathy, ambition, commitment and excellence.

“Commitment matters, excellence is recognised, and meaningful service will always be honoured,” he said, while paying tribute to the families of the recipients for the encouragement and support they had provided throughout their professional journeys.

This article was first published in The Guardian Post Edition No:3911 of Wednesday September 16, 2026