Ya-Na Kicks Against Renaming Tamale Airport After Yakubu Tali

The overlord of Dagbon, Ya-Na Abukari has registered his displeasure at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s decision to rename the Tamale International Airport after politician and former chief of Tolon Traditional Area, Naa Yakubu Tali.

In a letter to the President dated February 28, 2024, the Gbewaa Palace postulated that the decision is “unacceptable”.

“This is an unacceptable idea to me and majority of citizens of Dagbon.”

According to the Palace, the move will be “contentious and counterproductive”, breeding unnecessary controversy in the traditional state and the entire Northern Region.

“As then Ya-Na Abukari VI, 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,” parts of the letter read.

He thus suggested the facility be named after Naa Gbewaa.

President Akufo-Addo, while delivering the State of the Nation Address (SONA) late last month, announced the recently commissioned Tamale International Airport would be named after Yakubu Tali.

Tolon Naa Alhaji Yakubu Alhassan Tali was a founding member of the Northern People’s Party and served as envoy to Nigeria, Yugoslavia, Sierra Leone and Guinea.

He died in Tamale in June 1986.