The Government of Ghana has appointed Engr. Prof. Dr. Naail Mohammed Kamil as the country’s new Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia. The appointment recognises his extensive academic background, international experience, and longstanding contributions to education, governance, and national development.
Prof. Kamil, who hails from Old Tafo in the Ashanti Region, is a distinguished scholar and professional engineer with expertise spanning business administration, Islamic banking and finance, geological engineering, and law. He currently serves as an Associate Professor at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) School of Business, specialising in management and organisational behavior.
Over the years, Prof. Kamil has built an exceptional career across academia, engineering, and public service. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Geological Engineering from KNUST in 2006 and later pursued his MBA in Islamic Banking and Finance at the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) in 2009. He continued his studies at the same institution, obtaining a PhD in Business Administration (Management and Organisational Behaviour) in 2012. He also holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree from the University of Cape Coast (2024) and is currently pursuing an LLM in Alternative Dispute Resolution at the University of Ghana, Legon.
His early professional career included roles with Newmont Ghana Gold Limited and Nokia’s Middle East and North Africa operations. He later transitioned into academia, where he served as an Assistant Professor at IIUM and subsequently as an Associate Professor and Head of the Global Leadership Research Unit at SEGi University in Kuala Lumpur.
Prof. Kamil’s return to Ghana saw him join the KNUST School of Business as a Senior Lecturer in 2018, before his promotion to Associate Professor. He later became the Head of the Department of Human Resource and Organisational Development from 2021 to 2023. Currently, he also serves as the College Coordinator for the Centre for Capacity Building and Innovation under the Office of the Vice Chancellor, representing the College of Humanities and Social Sciences.
Beyond academia, Prof. Kamil has played influential roles in leadership and community development. He is the Board Chairman of Azhariya Senior High School in Kumasi and has trained and mentored students and professionals in business management and leadership. He has also contributed to professional consultancy and training for major institutions including AngloGold Ashanti, Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), and the Kuwaiti National Petroleum Company.
Fluent in six languages, Arabic, English, Bahasa Melayu, Bahasa Indonesia, Hausa, and Twi, Prof. Kamil brings a unique multicultural advantage to his diplomatic post in Malaysia. His familiarity with Malaysian culture and his professional network in the country are expected to enhance Ghana’s diplomatic and trade relations in Southeast Asia.
Politically, Prof. Kamil is an active member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) and serves as a National Executive Committee member of the NDC Professionals Forum (ProForum). He has held various roles within the party, including Collation Officer during the 2020 general elections and campaign team member for the Old Tafo constituency.
Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a deep commitment to peacebuilding, youth mentorship, and interfaith dialogue. As an Imam and Khatib, he has led Friday prayers and religious programmes in Ghana, Malaysia, and Indonesia, promoting tolerance and understanding across cultures.
His appointment as Deputy High Commissioner to Malaysia is seen as a strategic choice, given his academic, linguistic, and professional ties to the country. Many observers believe he is well positioned to strengthen bilateral cooperation in education, investment, technology, and cultural exchange between Ghana and Malaysia.
With his blend of scholarship, diplomacy, and grassroots engagement, Engr. Prof. Dr. Naail Mohammed Kamil embodies the values of excellence and service that Ghana’s foreign missions strive to represent. His tenure in Kuala Lumpur is expected to deepen the cordial relations between the two nations while advancing Ghana’s global interests.
