University of Ghana lecturer and political historian, Professor Ebenezer Ayesu, has admonished President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to factor the concerns of the King of Dagbon, Ndan Ya-Na Abubakari Mahama II into his decision to rename the Tamale Airport.
The President during the State of the Nation address Tuesday, February 27, 2024 indicated that he was going to rename the Tamale and Kumasi Airports when completed, with the Tamale one after Tolon Naa Yakubu Tali.
Meanwhile, the Ya-Na says the Gbewaa Palace and the Dagbon people are not in support of the idea, demanding the President to rescind his decision.
Speaking on News Central on TV3 Thursday, March 07, 2024, Prof. Ayesu asked the President to factor the concerns of the Ya-Na due to his personality and influence in the area.
“With the Tamale one, given the process about which eventually Dagbon came to have peace and now have an overlord, I think his voice carries a huge weight which had to be and therefore if he has raised concerns about the name being given, it has to be listened,” he noted.
He, however, noted that Gbewaa Palace’s call for the decision to be rescinded should not be borne out of personal animosities.
“But it should not be the case that, you know they have some inbuilt animosities and whatever. It shouldn’t be because it is that man’s name,” he added.
In his personal take on the issue, the Tamale Airport should be named after the founder of the Dagbon Kingdom, Gbewaa. He, also said even though the President’s decision to rename the airport is not wrong, he should clearly explain to the people why he is taking such a decision in order to settle the misunderstanding that has come up.
“Personally I would have named that airport after the founder of the Dagbon Kingdom, which is the father of the Abudus and the Andanis. I would have done that, other than that, I think there was nothing wrong with what the President has done. He should have explained the basis of what he did to the king. And I think that given the goodwill that has existed between them since the unification of the Dagbon groups, they put that matter to rest,” he advised.
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