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Paul J. Isaak. © Vikitoria Hango

Paul J. Isaak. © Vikitoria Hango

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A long time academic and professor of missiology at the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Dr Paul J. Isaak has been appointed as director of elections by President Hifikepunye Pohamba in Namibia. Isaak commenced his new position at the Electoral Commission of Namibia in September.

Isaak served as professor of ecumenical missiology from 2007 to 2012 at the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches (WCC), attached to the University of Geneva. His position at the institute was seconded by the United Evangelical Mission, Council for World Mission and Communauté d’Eglises en Mission (CEVAA).

Isaak has authored several publications on socio-political and economic issues, and is currently a book review editor of the International Review of Mission, a WCC journal.

“I would like to offer my prayers and best wishes to Prof. Paul Isaak as he assumes his responsibilities as director of elections in Namibia,” said the WCC general secretary Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit.

“We hope that Isaak’s work will make a positive contribution toward a free and fair electoral process in Namibia, an essential step towards country’s democratic process,” Tveit added.

Speaking on his appointment, Isaak said, “All Namibians shall vote freely and democratically and that the Electoral Commission of Namibia shall conduct, direct and supervise such elections in an atmosphere that is impartial, fair, credible and transparent for all stakeholders.”

Isaak also worked at the University of Namibia, where he coordinated a course on contemporary social issues, along with teaching African philosophy and western political philosophy.

Website of the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey