The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) has called on minister of international relations and trade Selma Ashipala-Musavyi to appear before the parliament to give stock on the alleged appointment of an ambassador to Ghana without that country’s approval.
IPC shadow minister of international relations Rodney Cloete in a statement on Monday says: “Minister Ashipala-Musavyi must appear before the parliament to explain how this protocol failure occurred and what assurances she can provide that diplomatic appointments will henceforth comply with the Vienna Convention.”
He says president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah recently declared diplomatic appointments “a solemn trust”.
That trust has been compromised and Namibians deserve answers, he says.
Cloete says Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata was commissioned as high commissioner-designate on 8 December, while Ghana was still considering the appointment.
Cloete says Ghana has cited Article 4 of the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, which requires receiving state consent before a sending state accredits a head of mission.
He says Ghana has, however, not granted this consent, adding that the appointment violates international diplomatic protocol.
“In less than six months as minister, her portfolio has overseen an appointment Ghana has formally protested as a Vienna Convention violation,” he says.
Meanwhile, in a statement released on Monday, State House says reports suggesting that certain ambassadorial appointments and redeployments were conducted in secrecy are misplaced and incorrect.
The statement says diplomatic processes, including the receipt of agreements and the presentation of letters of credence differ from one host country to another.
It says while some heads of mission have already presented their letters of credence, others are still awaiting the completion of these formalities.
“It was therefore considered appropriate to issue a collective announcement once the process had sufficiently progressed,” the statement reads.
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