Tamale, Ghana

Early settlement in 1929|thumb|left|200px The area of Tamale used to consist of small villages, which were under the kingdom of Dagbon. it was a popular destination of cattle trails in the region. == Economy ==

Historically ruled by a rural agriculture system, Tamale's economy in recent times have diversified into many different sectors. Most of Tamale's population is employed in agriculture, although the common droughts in the region have threatened this sector. Other popular sectors including trading, teaching, and manufacturing. Even though the economy is considered diverse, Tamale suffers from a high unemployment rate and high rates of poverty. There is also a small amount of NGOs operating in the city. == Demographics ==

{{historical population As of the 2010 census, Tamale has a population of 371,351 people, a 60.6% increase from the last census. The city is made up of many different ethnic groups with the majority being the Dagombas. Other groups who lived in the area include the Gonjas, Mamprusis, Akan, Dagaabas and other groups from the Upper East Region. 90.5% of the population are Muslims, followed by Christians, spiritualists and traditionalists. == Administration ==

's office Although Tamale doesn't have a mayor on its own, the municipal has a mayor–council form of government. The mayor is appointed by the president of Ghana and approved by the town council, the Tamale Metropolitan Assembly. Although, suggestions have been made by residents to increase accountability of the office by having the mayor elected. == Culture ==

Tamale is home to a culture center which showcases arts and tribes from all over the region. The Dagbamba people performed dances such as the Baamaya and Tora, with each having its own meaning behind it. Some annual festivals celebrated in the city are the Bugum chugu, Damba festival, Eid ul-Fitr, Eid Adha. == Education ==

The first education institution in the city was a teacher training college in 1944 followed by a secondary school in 1951. Due to the British wanting to keep the Northern Territories strictly agricultural and pastoral, education growth in the city was hindered. Besides that, Tamale eventually became the educational hub of Northern Ghana. The following is a list of senior high schools, colleges, and universities in Tamale: == Transportation ==

Air Tamale is served by Tamale International Airport. Located about from downtown Tamale, the airport is mainly used by commercial airlines such as Africa World Airlines and Passion Air which are the only operational companies as of 2024. They run regular flights between Tamale and Accra's Accra International Airport, along with other regional capitals. Rapid transport There are public transports from Tamale to major cities such as Kumasi, Accra, Mim, Ahafo, Cape Coast, Sunyani, Takoradi, Tema, Ho, Wa, Bolgatanga, Elubo, Aflao, and Techiman. They are operated by Tamale's bus rapid transit system, tro-tro, MetroMass, STC Bus Lines, and other privately owned bus companies. The popular means of travel for locals however is by motorbike. Motorbikes are the most used means of transport for the locals. In 2024, a record of 600,032 locals possess motorbikes. Another means of transport are huge buses such as intercity STC, VIP, VVIP among others and these buses are being used every day. == Geography ==

Metropolitan area Tamale is located in Tamale Metropolitan District, which has an area of about . The district bordered the Sagnarigu District to the west and north, Mion District towards the east, East Gonja District to the south and the Central Gonja District towards the southwest. The relative humidity in the city is usually the lowest between December and March at 30% while around August it is the highest at 70%. {{Weather box == Healthcare ==

The city is home to the Tamale Teaching Hospital, which helps to handle health related issues for the whole region. It is the 3rd largest hospital in the country. It also offers undergraduate and graduate programs in medicine, nursing, and nutrition. == Sports ==

Tamale is home to Real Tamale United along with other smaller clubs. They played at the Aliu Mahama Sports Stadium (formerly Tamale Sports Stadium), which was the location of some of the matches played during the 2008 African Cup of Nations. Due to the state of the stadium, FIFA and CAF have prevented international matches to be play at the facility. == Media ==

Since the 1970s, modern communication in Tamale is rapid with it being operated by 6 mobile telecommunication companies. There are 11 FM radio stations located in the city. == Sister cities ==

The following shows the cities that Tamale is twined with: • Louisville, United States (1979) • Fada N'Gourma, Burkina Faso (2003) • Commune II Niamey, Niger (2007) == Notable people ==

• Mubarak Wakaso, professional footballer • Haruna Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tamale South and the former Minister for Employment and Labour Relations in Ghana, Minority leader of Parliament • Abdul Majeed Waris, professional footballer • Fancy Gadam, Afro-pop and dancehall artist • Mahamudu Bawumia, politician • Sheikh Bayan Basha, Islamic preacher • Alhassan Suhiyini, politician • Inusah Fuseini, politician • Alhassan Bashir Fuseini, politician • Mona 4Reall, Socialite, model, musician, and businesswoman • Maccasio, Hip hop, hip life artist and an entrepreneur • Ibrahim Mahama, artist • Seidu Al-Hassan vice chancellor at UDS == See also ==