A member of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) communications team, Hamza Suhuyini, has revealed that the party plans to review the renaming of the Tamale International Airport to Yakubu Tali International Airport.
Speaking on Channel One TV’s Breakfast Daily on Wednesday, February 4, Mr Suhuyini said the NDC had opposed the decision at the time, arguing that if the intention was to honour the people of Northern Ghana, a more inclusive name should have been considered.
According to him, the NDC had proposed that the airport be named Gbewaa International Airport to reflect the shared ancestral heritage of people from the Northern, North East, and Upper East Regions; however, the airport was named after a foundational member of the NPP party.
“The NPP named the Tamale airport after one of its foundational members, Yakubu Tali, who is a sub-chief of the Ya Naa. We argued then that if the renaming was truly to honour the people of the North, it would have been better to name it Gbewaa International Airport, because people from the Northern, North East, and Upper East Regions all identify with Gbewaa as a common ancestor,” he stated.
Mr Suhuyini further disclosed that the current administration is reconsidering the decision.
“They ignored our proposal and went ahead to name it Yakubu Tali International Airport. That particular name is also under review, so you can rest assured,” he added.
While presenting the 2024 State of the Nation address on Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in Parliament, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo announced the renaming of the Tamale International Airport after the late Tolon Naa, Yakubu Tali.
The late Tolon Naa was an astute traditional ruler, politician, diplomat and a founder member of the Northern People’s Party (NPP).
He said the late Tolon Naa deserved the honour for his years of sacrifice for his people and the nation.
Following the renaming, Ya-Na, many other traditional rulers and a section of the public raised concerns with the proposed renaming, saying that renaming the airport after the late Tolon Naa was contentious and could create needless controversies in Dagbon
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