The Namibian High Commissioner to Ghana, Ndiyakupi Nghituwamata, has described Ho, the Volta Regional capital, as a beautiful and suitable destination for enhanced cooperation between communities in Ghana and Namibia.

She made the observation after joining the Ho Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Stephen Adom, on a walking tour of parts of the city as part of her familiarisation visit to the Ho Municipality.

The walk, according to the MCE, was intended to give the High Commissioner an opportunity to experience the city beyond the usual official engagements and hotel accommodation that often characterised visits by dignitaries.

“Anytime we have visitors, we keep them in the hotel. They just drive around town and they don't really see the city."

He said the decision to take the High Commissioner on a walking tour was to enable her to experience first-hand the cleanliness, beauty and atmosphere of Ho, popularly known as the “Oxygen City”.

He noted that the tour also provided an opportunity to brief the envoy on the municipality's development needs and explore areas where Ho could partner with Namibia.

“As we are walking, I try to explain some few things to her about the city, and also to tell her that we need this, we need that, and we need to partner in doing those things,” he said.

Mr Adom added that the informal engagement created an opportunity for the two sides to discuss issues which could not be addressed during their earlier official engagements.

For her part, Mrs Nghituwamata expressed appreciation for the warm reception accorded her by the people of Ho, the Volta Regional Minister and the Municipal Chief Executive.

She said her experience of Ho had convinced her that the description of the city as the “Oxygen City” was well deserved.

“Ho is beautiful, and the Oxygen City, as it's named, is not misplaced at all,” she said.

The High Commissioner added that she enjoyed the walk and wished they could continue throughout the day “just to breathe in the oxygen”.

She further identified the Volta Region as an area where Namibians could establish meaningful partnerships with local communities, particularly in areas of mutual interest.

Mrs Nghituwamata disclosed that concrete plans had already been outlined to guide engagements between the two sides before the end of the year.

She stressed the High Commission is committed to pursuing discussions and strengthening relations between Namibia and communities in the Volta Region in the coming weeks.

“The Regional Minister is not joking. And even now, as we are walking, the Honourable Chief Executive is also emphasising the same thing,” she stated.

According to her, the two sides had already identified areas they wanted to achieve by December, adding that the people of the Volta Region and Namibia should expect increased interaction and discussions in the coming weeks.

The familiarisation visit forms part of efforts to deepen cooperation between the Ho Municipality and Namibia in areas including agriculture, waste management, investment and local economic development.