Dagbon Traditional Area Ruler Yana Abukari Mahama II has urged President Akufo-Addo to reconsider his decision to rename Tamale International Airport to Yakubu Tari International Airport.
During his State of the Union address on Tuesday, February 27, the President revealed plans to rename Kumasi International Airport and Tamale Airport to Nana Agyeman Prempeh I International Airport and Yakubu Tali International Airport, respectively.
However, the Dagbon monarch said in a letter to the president that this is “an idea that is unacceptable to me and the majority of the people of Dagbon.”
Yana Abukari II added: “Gbewa Palace has been flooded with calls and other communications begging us to shelve this proposal.”
He added: “It is the thoughtful input of many people and traditional leaders in the region that gives Na Gbewa such recognition.”
Below is the full text of Ya-Na Abukari II’s letter.
Greetings from our brother royal families from Gbewa Palace, with our fervent hopes and prayers that you are in good health and well-being. We would like to draw your attention to your desire to rename Tamale International Airport to Yakubu Tari International Airport.
This is an unacceptable idea to me and to the majority of Dagbon residents. The renaming of Tamale International Airport after Tlong Na Yakubu will be controversial and counterproductive. It will drag our traditional states and the entire northern region into unnecessary controversy.
As the then King Yona Abukari VII, I personally and voluntarily released substantial land covering the entire airport expansion area to the Government of Ghana to carry out this critical infrastructure development.
Since the proposal was announced, Gbewa Palace has been flooded with phone calls and other communications begging it to shelve the proposal. It is the well-considered opinion of many people and traditional leaders in the region that Mr Na Gbewaa deserves such recognition.
Please accept my compliment with the utmost consideration.
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