Also known as: Graham Hoopwood · Hoopwood · executive director Graham Hopwood
Director of the Institute for Public Policy Research advocating for parliamentary reform, transparency in extractive industries, and media sector sustainability.
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The Namibian
Graham Hopwood says Namibia risks following Angola and Nigeria unless it safeguards upstream petroleum sector from corrupt influences
“Graham Hopwood, the excutive director of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), says unless Namibia takes measures to safeguard the upstream petroleum sector from corrupt influences, the country risks following in the footsteps of Angola and Nigeria.”
‘We could end up on the same road as Angola and Nigeria’The Namibian
Graham Hopwood says Hengari failed to address oil curse concerns in his statement
“Hopwood says Hengari failed to address this in his statement in which he criticised Hopwood and various analysts cautioning that Geingob's acceptance of a recent lifetime achievement award from the African Energy Chamber (AEC), led by Ayuk, could open the door to corruption in Namibia's oil industry.”
‘We could end up on the same road as Angola and Nigeria’The Namibian
Institute for Public Policy Research director Graham Hopwood warned that leaders should not accept awards from people with questionable track records
“"I think it is important that our leaders do not accept awards from people with questionable track records as appears to be the case here. "We have to avoid the examples of Nigeria, Equatorial Guinea and Angola at all costs," Institute for Public Policy Research director Graham Hopwood told The Namibian last month.”
Geingob attends energy conference despite controversyThe Namibian
Hopwood said secrecy allows corruption to take place and public confidence depends on transparency
“"Secrecy allows corruption to take place. Public confidence in the project depends on public transparency and accountability," he said at a recent civil society workshop on green hydrogen.”
Hyphen maintains secrecy on agreements with GovtThe Namibian
Graham Hopwood said the tenders awarded to Hyphen Hydrogen Energy were not done transparently.
“Hopwood said the tenders awarded to Hyphen Hydrogen Energy were not done transparently.”
Civil society demands disclosure amid green hydrogen ‘secrecy’The Namibian
Graham Hopwood says if a project starts off like this, it's a big warning sign
“Institute for Public Policy Research director Graham Hopwood says if a project starts off like this, it's a big warning sign.”
Lüderitz’s Energy GambleThe Namibian
Graham Hopwood is Institute for Public Policy Research executive director
“Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham Hopwood, who is also a renowned political analyst, engages Desert Radio on this issue.”
Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham HopwoodThe Namibian
Graham Hopwood is a renowned political analyst
“Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham Hopwood, who is also a renowned political analyst, engages Desert Radio on this issue.”
Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham HopwoodThe Namibian
Graham Hopwood engaged Desert Radio on the oil industry issue
“Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham Hopwood, who is also a renowned political analyst, engages Desert Radio on this issue.”
Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham HopwoodThe Namibian
Graham Hopwood called for transparency in the appointment of the ACC head
“Institute for Public Policy Research executive director Graham Hopwood called for transparency in the appointment of the ACC head.”
Noa pleads not to be replacedNational Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila attributes parliament's delays in passing laws to parliamentary rules set by the assembly itself, not to her office. She said the rules prescribe the order and procedures for considering matters, including daily notices, questions, and reports that are placed before the legislative agenda.
5 August 2026 · The Namibian →
National Assembly Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila attributes parliament's delays in passing laws to parliamentary rules set by the assembly itself, not to her office. She said the rules prescribe the order and procedures for considering matters, including daily notices, questions, and reports that are placed before the legislative agenda.
5 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Independent Patriots for Change support calls by the Institute for Public Policy Research to extend Parliament's sitting hours and days to address the backlog of bills, while the National Democratic Party rejects the proposal. IPC previously tabled a motion to have the National Assembly sit Monday to Friday, which was rejected by Swapo, and argues that systemic parliamentary changes beyond just extended hours are needed.
30 July 2026 · New Era →
Civil society and MPs have called for the National Assembly to extend its sitting hours from 14h30 to 17h45 to properly debate and pass laws. Institute for Public Policy Research director Graham Hopwood said parliament currently works about 90 days a year and warned that deadlocks in passing laws will be an early warning sign for Namibia's political future.
28 July 2026 · The Namibian →
The Institute of Public Policy Research has released its procurement tracker and called for an in-depth investigation into healthcare sector procurement, describing it as a persistent governance challenge. Research shows corruption in the sector has been ongoing for a decade, and the IPPR notes that key laws including the Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017 and the Access to Information Act of 2022 have been passed but not implemented.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The government is considering spending up to N$3 billion to buy a stake in De Beers, reportedly partnering with Angola and Botswana, which already hold 15% of the diamond company. The deal follows Anglo American's decision to exit De Beers and sell its 85% stake, with De Beers' valuation dropping significantly from N$65.7 billion to N$6.9 billion.
11 June 2026 · The Namibian →
The Institute for Public Policy Research has warned that financial pressure and digital disruption are weakening Namibia's media sector, calling for funding models such as grants, public interest funds, and tax incentives to sustain quality reporting, as well as transparent advertising policies from government and state-owned enterprises.
5 May 2026 · Windhoek Observer →
Six years after the Fishrot scandal, Namibia's fisheries sector remains governed by excessive secrecy with no publicly accessible register of fishing rights holders, quota allocations, or beneficial owners. The same structural weaknesses that enabled the fraud—concentrated discretionary powers, opaque allocation processes, and 'paper quota holders' profiting without investment—remain largely intact, requiring political will to implement transparency reforms.
26 April 2026 · The Namibian →
On Swapo's 66th anniversary, party leader Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah stated that while the party's liberation struggle history is important, it alone cannot carry the party forward as people now expect tangible improvements in jobs, housing, healthcare, and education. Political analysts noted Swapo's waning electoral support over recent elections due to corruption and declining leadership quality, though the party remains the country's strongest with functional regional structures.
21 April 2026 · New Era →
Civil society organisations have accused the government of lack of transparency on oil and gas information access, with various agencies declining to provide petroleum licence details and citing organisational restructuring. Multiple officials and institutions have refused to respond to inquiries, prompting warnings that withholding critical sector information undermines public trust and the right to know.
8 April 2026 · The Namibian →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to announce eight new deputy ministers and appoint deputy defence minister Charles Mubita as minister in the Presidency. The move comes despite her earlier decision to cut ministries and reduce Cabinet size, with critics and analysts warning that some merged ministries may now be too large to function effectively.
5 April 2026 · The Namibian →
A proposed hydrogen production facility in Namibia's Tsau ||Khaeb National Park promises jobs and clean energy exports, but conservationists warn it risks harming endangered wildlife like African penguins and unique desert plants, while local activists raise concerns about community engagement and respect for sites of colonial genocide.
16 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Institute for Public Policy Research warns that Namibia faces governance risks as it prepares for oil production, citing lack of transparency in petroleum licensing, insufficient beneficial ownership disclosure, and weak local content oversight as key areas needing reform before the expected investment decisions from TotalEnergies and Mopane projects. Addressing these challenges through the Access to Information Act and digital transparency could help Namibia avoid the "resource curse" while ensuring oil revenues benefit communities rather than political elites.
16 March 2026 · The Namibian →
A major hydrogen production facility planned for Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park promises jobs and economic growth but risks damaging endangered wildlife like African penguins and unique desert plants, prompting conservationists to warn of impacts on biodiversity despite Hyphen's commitments to minimise disturbance.
13 March 2026 · The Namibian →
The Institute for Public Policy Research is advocating for Namibia to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), citing the need for greater transparency and accountability in oil, gas, and mineral resource extraction. Namibia has failed to meet EITI standards, which include contract transparency and beneficial ownership disclosure, gaps that hinder public tracking of extraction ventures and create room for corruption concerns.
12 February 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's emerging oil and gas sector faces a 30-year legal vacuum in gas-related legislation and internal corruption scandals at Namcor, even as offshore exploration has confirmed 21 billion barrels of crude and significant gas deposits. A power struggle between resource nationalists and business factions over control of the industry has intensified following President Nandi-Ndaitwah's appointment and her move to centralise upstream petroleum functions in the Office of the President.
12 February 2026 · The Namibian →
The Institute for Public Policy Research has called on Namibia to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a framework requiring disclosure of information on oil, gas and mineral resources throughout the value chain. The EITI was listed as a goal in Namibia's second Harambee Prosperity Plan but was never implemented, though compliance would address current gaps in contract transparency, beneficial ownership disclosure, and revenue reporting.
7 February 2026 · The Namibian →