Ghana questions Nghituwamata’s posting
• Former agriculture ED remains in Namibia
Sonja Smith
WindhoekThe government of Ghana has requested an explanation from Namibia over the appointment and announcement of former executive director in the agriculture ministry Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata as high commissioner-designate to the West African country, which has not consented to the appointment as diplomatic protocol dictates.
Nghituwamata was appointed on 8 December 2025, alongside six other diplomatic postings to various countries. She has not yet departed Namibia for Ghana.
The Namibian reported in December that Nghituwamata was questioned by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in May over her role in awarding a N$4.9-million tender to Cha-Cha-Cha Management Consultancy, a company owned by James Sankwasa, the minister of urban and rural development. No formal charges have been brought against her.
Ghana’s objection
In a note verbale dated 15 December 2025, addressed to Namibia’s high commission in Accra and seen by Namibian Sun, Ghana’s ministry of foreign affairs said it was still considering Namibia’s request for agreement to post Nghituwamata to Accra when it became aware that she had already been commissioned as high commissioner-designate.
A note verbale is a standard, unsigned diplomatic communication used by foreign missions to convey official positions and requests between states.
The Ghanaian ministry referred to earlier notes verbale dated 24 October and 12 November 2025 from Namibia’s ministry of international relations and trade, which sought Ghana’s consent for Nghituwamata’s nomination.
Commissioning before consent
According to the note, Ghana expressed concern that Namibia had proceeded to commission the nominee while the request for agreement was still under consideration in that country, a development that was reportedly announced publicly in Namibia.
“It has come to the attention of the government of the Republic of Ghana that, while the request for agreement is still under consideration, the government of the Republic of Namibia has proceeded to commission the said nominee as high commissioner-designate... as published in Namibian official media,” the note reads.
Ghana based its objection on Article 4 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires a receiving state to grant prior consent before a diplomatic envoy is formally appointed.
“In view of the foregoing and pursuant to Article 4... the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana requests an explanation from the government of the Republic of Namibia regarding the commissioning of Ms Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata as high commissioner-designate,” the note states.
Article 4 stipulates that a sending state must ensure agrément - formal consent - has been granted before accrediting a head of mission. The receiving state is not obliged to provide reasons if consent is withheld.
Officials respond cautiously
Nghituwamata declined to comment when contacted by Namibian Sun on Saturday.
Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Masavyi said she had not seen the note verbale.
“I have not received the note verbale you are talking about. But what we know is that we cannot commission someone without the consent of the receiving state. For her to leave the country, it is not up to us, and it is not an issue—she can leave whenever she wants,” Ashipala-Masavyi said.
Namibian Sun understands that Nghituwamata cannot take up her posting in Ghana until the Ghanaian government has formally granted agreement.
The Ministry of International Relations and Trade has in recent months faced scrutiny amid concerns that several ambassadorial postings were made without formal public announcements.
Diplomats reportedly posted without public communication include Veicco Nghiwete to the United Kingdom, Samuel Mbambo to Algeria, Frieda Ithete to South Africa, Gabriel Sinimbo to Tanzania, and Hopelong Ipinge to the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville).
WindhoekThe government of Ghana has requested an explanation from Namibia over the appointment and announcement of former executive director in the agriculture ministry Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata as high commissioner-designate to the West African country, which has not consented to the appointment as diplomatic protocol dictates.
Nghituwamata was appointed on 8 December 2025, alongside six other diplomatic postings to various countries. She has not yet departed Namibia for Ghana.
The Namibian reported in December that Nghituwamata was questioned by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in May over her role in awarding a N$4.9-million tender to Cha-Cha-Cha Management Consultancy, a company owned by James Sankwasa, the minister of urban and rural development. No formal charges have been brought against her.
Ghana’s objection
In a note verbale dated 15 December 2025, addressed to Namibia’s high commission in Accra and seen by Namibian Sun, Ghana’s ministry of foreign affairs said it was still considering Namibia’s request for agreement to post Nghituwamata to Accra when it became aware that she had already been commissioned as high commissioner-designate.
A note verbale is a standard, unsigned diplomatic communication used by foreign missions to convey official positions and requests between states.
The Ghanaian ministry referred to earlier notes verbale dated 24 October and 12 November 2025 from Namibia’s ministry of international relations and trade, which sought Ghana’s consent for Nghituwamata’s nomination.
Commissioning before consent
According to the note, Ghana expressed concern that Namibia had proceeded to commission the nominee while the request for agreement was still under consideration in that country, a development that was reportedly announced publicly in Namibia.
“It has come to the attention of the government of the Republic of Ghana that, while the request for agreement is still under consideration, the government of the Republic of Namibia has proceeded to commission the said nominee as high commissioner-designate... as published in Namibian official media,” the note reads.
Ghana based its objection on Article 4 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, which requires a receiving state to grant prior consent before a diplomatic envoy is formally appointed.
“In view of the foregoing and pursuant to Article 4... the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Ghana requests an explanation from the government of the Republic of Namibia regarding the commissioning of Ms Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata as high commissioner-designate,” the note states.
Article 4 stipulates that a sending state must ensure agrément - formal consent - has been granted before accrediting a head of mission. The receiving state is not obliged to provide reasons if consent is withheld.
Officials respond cautiously
Nghituwamata declined to comment when contacted by Namibian Sun on Saturday.
Minister of International Relations and Trade Selma Ashipala-Masavyi said she had not seen the note verbale.
“I have not received the note verbale you are talking about. But what we know is that we cannot commission someone without the consent of the receiving state. For her to leave the country, it is not up to us, and it is not an issue—she can leave whenever she wants,” Ashipala-Masavyi said.
Namibian Sun understands that Nghituwamata cannot take up her posting in Ghana until the Ghanaian government has formally granted agreement.
The Ministry of International Relations and Trade has in recent months faced scrutiny amid concerns that several ambassadorial postings were made without formal public announcements.
Diplomats reportedly posted without public communication include Veicco Nghiwete to the United Kingdom, Samuel Mbambo to Algeria, Frieda Ithete to South Africa, Gabriel Sinimbo to Tanzania, and Hopelong Ipinge to the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville).
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