A brief profile

The Tamale Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) was elevated to the status of Metropolis in 2004. The Metropolis is one of the six Metropolitan Assemblies in the country and the only Metropolis in the three Northern Regions of Ghana namely; Upper East, Upper West and Northern Regions. The capital of the Metropolis is the capital of the Northern Region and the seat of the Northern Regional Minister.

Location and Size

The Tamale Metropolis is one of the 26 districts in the Northern Region. The Metropolis is located in the central part of the Northern Region and shares boundaries with five other districts namely the Savelugu- Nanton to the North, Yendi Municipal Assembly to the East, Tolon-Kumbungu to the West, Central Gonja to the South West and East Ganja to the South. 

For example, it takes one hour drive from Central Gonja District and the Yendi Municipality to the Tamale Metropolis and fifteen and twenty minutes drive from the Savelugu-Nanton and Tolon Kumbungu Districts to the Metropolis respectively. By this strategic location, the Metropolis has a market potential for local goods from the agricultural and commerce sectors to and fro from these other districts in the region. Beside the comparative locational advantage of the Metropolis within the region, the area stands to gain from markets within the international community especially with countries such as Burkina Faso, Niger, Mail and Northern Togo that en-route through the area to the southern part of the country. 

The Metropolis also has a total estimated land size of 750 km sq which is about 13% of the total land area of the Northern Region. Out of this portion about……km sq has been utilized. The remaining …..% unutilized land shows that there is available land for agricultural and real estate development activities. The map below shows the Metropolis in Nation Context. Figure    1. 1 Map of Ghana
 
Geographically, the Metropolis lies between latitude 9º16 and 9º 34 North and longitudes 0º 36 and 0º 57 west. There are a total of 197 communities in the Metropolis of which 33 are urban communities. This implies that over hundred (100) communities in the Metropolis are either peri-urban or rural communities. Most of the rural communities are the areas where there is land for agricultural activities and serve as the food basket for the Metropolis. However these communities still lack basic social and economic infrastructure such as good road network, school blocks, hospitals, market and recreational centers which hindered socio-economic development, poverty reduction and the general phenomena of rural urban migration of the area.

Relief and Climate

Generally, the Metropolis is located about 180 metres above sea level with some few isolated hills. This geographical land nature is suitable for the construction of roads, expansion of electricity and general building works in the area. The Metropolis receives only one single rainfall in a year. This implies that for effective agricultural production the area should consider irrigational facilities that would enhance all year round activities in the area. Daily temperature in the Metropolis varies from season to season. Whiles in the rainy season there is high humidity, slight sunshine with heavy thunder storms, the dry season is characterized by dry Harmattam winds from November-February and high sunshine from March-May. 

This climatic feature is a potential for the preservation industry that could use the sunshine as a natural preservative. Another potential area that is left untapped is the artificial parks and gardens that could take the advantage of the high sun rays to build swimming pools, parks for both children and adults to relax during the excessive sunshine period. By this, most families would be able to enjoy good family reunion during the weekends and holiday periods while the Assembly would make the needed revenue for the development of the area. Below is the daily temperature ranges in the Metropolis. Figure 1.3 Temperature Ranges of the Metropolis

Drainage

The Metropolis is poorly endowed with water bodies. This is attributed to the low underground water table. The only natural water systems are a few seasonal streams which have water during the rainy season and dries up during the dry season Notable among these streams are the Pasam, Dirm-Nyogni and Kwaha. 

All these streams have their headwaters from Tamale which is situated on a higher ground. Aside this, some artificial dams and dug-outs have been constructed either by the individual community members or by Non-Governmental Organisations in the Metropolis. Two of such dams are the Builpela and Lamashegu dams. These dug-outs serve as watering sources for animals as well as for domestic purposes. 

Despite this poor drainage situation, the Metropolis still has the potential for irrigation schemes. For instance the Pagazaa stream which collects all the water of the rivers mentioned earlier has a potential for agricultural production if it could be dammed for irrigation purposes.

Soil and Vegetation

The Metropolis lies within the Savannah Woodland Region in the country. The trees in this part of the country and for that matter the Metropolis are short scattered wood lots in nature. Major tree types are the Dawadawa, Nim, Acacia, Mahogamy, and Baobab among others. There are naturally grown tall grasses during the rainy season that are used to make the local “Zanamat” in the Metropolis. The making of the Zanamat by most farmers during the dry season reduces the rural migration levels of the youth from the rural areas to urban centers. Besides, the only economic tree is the Shea tree which has gained international recognition. 

The picking, processing and marketing of the Shea nuts has engaged thousands of households in the Shea nut activities in the area. This activity has also contributed in employing the youthful population in the Metropolis thereby increasing household incomes and reducing poverty levels of the people in the area. Cashew is also grown in the Metropolis.

The main soil types in the Metropolis are sandstone, gravel, mudstone and shale that have weathered into different soil grades. Due to seasonal erosion, soil types emanating from this phenomenon are sand, clay and laterite ochrosols. The availability of these soil types have contributed to rapid real estate development in the area where estate developers have resorted to the use of local building materials such as sea sand, gravel and clay.

There are two forest reserves in the central part of the Metropolis namely the Nyohini and Agric Forest Reserves. These are being encroached upon. The Forestry Services Department which has the oversight responsibility to ensure effective management of these reserves is saddled with the problem of personnel and financial resources to manage these environmental areas. While these forest reserves are encroached upon and are being used for commercial activities, majority of the population use these areas as an open place for defecation thereby increasing basic sanitation hazards in the Metropolis. This phenomena calls for effective forest reserves management and the need for private investors to acquire these areas and ensure that economic activities are being implemented such as picnics and holiday inns in these areas.