Tamale is the capital city of the Northern Region of Ghana, with a population of 305,000 (2005). It is mostly populated by Dagomba people who speak Dagbani and are followers of Islam. It is located in the northern part of the country, where the land is savanna, consisting of grasslands with drought-resistant trees. The city is like a conglomeration of villages, with many people living in traditional mud brick houses. While majority of the houses are roofed with corrugated iron sheets, a good number of them are roofed with grass. Many of these mud block compounds have TV antennae and electricity wires. The University for Development Studies has a campus located in Tamale.
Tamale has developed and transformed very fast within the last few years and often referred to the as the fastest growing city in West Africa. It now serves as a gateway to the Sahel considering its strategic positions as the centre between Ghana and her neighbours such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mali, Benin, Cote D'voire and Togo. It has an International Airport which could make Tamale the aviation hub of the sub-region. The city authorities are also developing an Inland Transit Port to promote sub-regional trade. It is also the gateway to all the important tourism sites in Northern Ghana.
The new dimension of Tamale's development is the rush by various companies to open branches in the city. In two years, about six Financial Institutions (Banks) have opened branches in the city. The hospitality industry has also grown significantly with new hotels and guest houses built around the city especially during the count down to the African Cup of Nations Soccer Tournament of 2008.
PLACE TO VISIT
Good point from which to visit Bongo (Moon Landscape) Tongo and Congo or if heading to Burkina Faso (neighbouring country).
Mole National Park can be a day trip from here. Elephants, Warthogs, several types of Monkey.
WHAT TO DO
Top up on supplies if you are heading out into the smaller towns or countryside.
Chat to the locals, very friendly bunch and you will find the best travel info this way.
SHOPPING
Market on Main Street Cobblers, textiles and lots of food. Worth going into for the look of it alone and you may be hassled to 'buy Yam!' especially if you are a woman.
Cultural Centre behind the main street in the grounds of a disused theatre. Oil paintings from GH7.50!!, batiks, ornaments, cheap jewelry, goatskin handbags foot pillows, drums.....
Wander around a bit and you will find music shops selling tapes of the current Ghanian charts, worth bringing a few home to remind yourself of the sunny, almost Jamaican style music being played everywhere.
HOW TO REACH
Public bus from Accra or Kumasi is cheap and safer than the maniac private bus drivers. It takes 11 hours from Accra, leaving around 8am so make sure you make a bathroom stop on the lunch stop as you might not be able to otherwise.
Private car from any medium sized town with driver is only about GH30 a day.
