Ya-Na Abukari Mahama II, the Overlord of the Dagbon Traditional Area, has urged President Akufo-Addo to reconsider his decision to rename the Tamale International Airport as Yakubu Tali International Airport.
The president in his State of the Nation Address on Tuesday, February 27, disclosed that there are plans in place to rename the Kumasi International Airport and the Tamale Airport to Nana Agyeman Prempeh I International Airport and Yakubu Tali International Airport respectively.
But the Dagbon overlord, in his letter to the president, said it “is an unacceptable idea to me and the majority of citizens of Dagbon.”
Ya-Na Abukari II added that the “Gbewaa Palace has been inundated with calls and other forms of communications pleading that this proposal be shelved.”
He further stated that ” it is the considered opinion of many people and traditional leaders in the region that such recognition is bestowed on Na Gbewaa.”
Below is Ya-Na Abukari II’s full letter.
I bring you fraternal royal greetings from the Gbewaa Palace, with fervent hope and prayer that you are in good health and high spirit. I would like to draw your attention to your wish to rename the Tamale International Airport as Yakubu Tali International Airport.
This is an unacceptable idea to me and the majority of citizens of Dagbon. The renaming of Tamale International Airport after Tolon Naa Yakubu will be contentious and counterproductive. It will draw our traditional state and the entire Northern Region into needless controversy.
As then Yo-Na Abukari VII, I personally and voluntarily released the substantial lands covering the entire expansion areas of the airport to the government of Ghana to undertake this important infrastructural development.
Since this proposal was announced, the Gbewaa Palace has been inundated with calls and other forms of communications pleading that this proposal be shelved. It is the considered opinion of many people and traditional leaders in the region that such recognition is bestowed on Na Gbewaa. Accept my compliments of the highest consideration.
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The Tamale airport was originally established during World War II for military use. Its importance led to plans for its expansion, but these were interrupted by political changes in 1966. Modifications were later made for civilian operations.
President John Dramani Mahama on August 19th, 2023, inaugurated the first phase of the expansion and upgrading of the Tamale Airport to international status. Work began in September 2014 to upgrade the Tamale Airport to international status.
Shortly after the ceremony, the first batch of 500 Muslim pilgrims were flown directly from the Tamale International Airport to Mecca for this year’s Hajj in Saudi Arabia.
In October 2016, Parliament approved a US$70 million Commercial Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Ghana and Banco Santander with an Export Credit Guarantee from the United Kingdom Export Finance for the construction of Phase 2 of the Tamale International Airport.
Tamale International Airport is the third-busiest airport in Ghana, after Kotoka International Airport and Kumasi Airport. It serves as a vital transportation hub, connecting both domestic and international destinations to Tamale.
Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia inaugurated the Phase Two expansion of Tamale International Airport on Tuesday 22nd of August, 2023.
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