Tamale, Ghana

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Tamale
Major city
Road in Tamale, Northern Region.
Tamale Metropolitan logo
Tamale Location of Tamale in Northern region, Dagbon Show map of Ghana Tamale Tamale (Africa) Show map of Africa
Coordinates: 09°24′27″N 00°51′12″W / 9.40750°N 0.85333°W / 9.40750; -0.85333
Country	Ghana
Region	Northern Region
District	Tamale Metropolitan District
Government
• Type	Mayor-Council
• Mayor	Sule Salifu
Area [1]
• Total	750 km2 (289.58 sq mi)
Elevation	151 m (495 ft)
Population  (2010)
• Total	950,124
• Density	480.77/km2 (1,245.18/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC
Postal codes	NT0000 - NT2701
Area code	037
Website	tamalemetro.gov.gh

Tamale (Dagbani: [ˈtamali]) is the capital city of the Northern Region of Ghana.^[2] It is Ghana's third largest city, with a population of 950,000.^[3] The city has been ranked as the fastest-growing city in West Africa.^[2][4] It is located 600 km (370 mi) north of Accra.^[5]

Tamale is located in the Kingdom of Dagbon, Ghana's oldest Kingdom. Traditional authority are subservient to the King of Dagbon, the Ndan Yaa Naa, who is resident at Yendi (Yani). Yendi is the traditional capital and seat of Governance of the king. The language of the people in Tamale is Dagbani.^[6]

Tamale boasts a thriving artistic and literary scene, evident in its numerous art studios, poets, and musicians.^[7] Numerous art studios are scattered throughout the urban landscape. Local musicians frequently organize well-attended shows, filling stadiums with music and energy.^[8] Notably, the Dagbanli language holds a special place in the city's poetic expression, with the "Lunsi" (historians and poets) playing a significant role in preserving and transmitting cultural heritage through their spoken word performances and compositions.^[9]

Tamale sits at a strategic location due to its greater proximity European, West African, and North African markets compared to Ghana's southern cities . It serves as a political, economic and financial center of the Northern Ghana.The city connects the coastal and forest area of Ghana to West and North Africa. The city's central business district hosts regional branches of financial institutions and a considerable number of international and local non governmental organisations.^[10]

The hospitality industry has grown significantly, with increasing investment in infrastracture.^[11][12] Tamale grew from a conglomeration of towns with an architectural blend of traditional mud houses and modern buildings. Tamale's new and modern facilities include the newly constructed Tamale Stadium (now Aliu Mahama sports Stadium named after late Ghana's vice-president, Alhaji Aliu Mahama), replacing the town's former principal football pitch, Kaladan Park. Improvements to Tamale's infrastructure occurred in the period leading up to the 2008 African Cup of Nations.^[12] The Tamale sports stadium was renamed after the late Vice president, Alhaji Aliu Mahama in the year 2018. Motorcycles are a common form of transportation.

More than 80% of residents are Dagombas, and 90.5% are Muslims.^[13] This is reflected by the multitude of mosques in Tamale, most notably the Tamale Central Mosque, Afa Ajura Mosque (Anbariya Mosque), Afa Basha mosque (Nuuria mosque) and The Ahmadiyyah Muslim mission Mosque. There are also many Churches in the city.