Cameroon honoured by the Vatican: Two Pontifical Medals awarded

Pope Francis has recognised two Cameroonians for their service to the Catholic Church and for humanity with the Pontifical Medal which raises them to Advisers of the Pope.

The medals were officially conferred on Johnson Okie Ndoh and wife Catherine during a pontifical mass at the Saint Joseph Anglophone Parish Mvog Ada.

The new Archbishop of Bamenda, His Grace Andrew Nkea, formally Bishop of Memfe, officiated the pontifical celebration. The mass coincided with his first outing since his appointment as Archbishop of the Bamenda Episcopal province.

The Archbishop explained that Johnson Okie Ndoh has been recognised for amongst other things the construction of the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Mboka in Nguti subdivision in the South West region.  He conceived the project, offered the land and sourced for financing of the project. The locality is today referred to as Mboka, the City of Peace.

Johnson Okie Ndoh who is president of the Catholic Men Association is also created for increasing membership of the church group from 2000 to 5000 in about two years in office.

The fervent Catholic Christians who also sponsor charitable organisations especially orphanages received become the second and third Cameroonians to receive the distinction which is one for the highest for the laity in the church.

The beneficiaries of the Pontifical medals say the distinction has been dedicated to peace in Cameroon. Johnson Okie Ndoh said the fact the event was organised in Yaounde in eloquent prove that the peace they have been praying for at the shrine in Mboka has moved to the capital from where it is spreading to the whole nation.

The mass was attended by a college of Bishops, members of Government; two former Prime Ministers, Philemon Yang and Peter Mafany Musonge, and other dignitaries.

Elvis Teke