Tamale - Ghana

This is a clip of Tamale, the capital of the Northern Region of Ghana. The majority of the clip is driving in to the centre of Tamale from the direction of the airport in a tro-tro, while the last shots are of the very centre of town, taken from the rooftop of the Giddipass bar & restaurant.


For more information on Ghana, visit www.ghana-pedia.org

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Travel & Events

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• Tamale
• Ghana

[DeeBarber]

I was in Ghana for 2 weeks this September, mainly in Accra and in the Western Region. I'm sorta shocked that in this vid the traffic light (1:24 - 2:31) was obeyed. I'm accustomed to all traffic lights being ignored always in Ghana (and no traffic tickets by my observation)!! :D

[Ghanapedia]

@DeeBarber - actually, I think they must be more discplined in the Northern Region, because I don't recall traffic lights only being used as a guide, unlike in Accra.

I've never seen anyone booked for running a red light, or speeding for that matter. They usually look at valid registration + insurance, and if the driver is licenced.

[DeeBarber]

@Ghanapedia (cont'd from below)... but I did find more than the usual already considerable attention on me, by police at these check-points, when I drove cross country and believe we would have been stopped once for search but the van driver floored the gas instead of stopping. Can you provide an unbiased understanding of what's up on this? I'm interested cuz I'd like to drive in Ghana but not if that!

[Ghanapedia]

@DeeBarber - No, the reason is due to the many unregistered/unroadworthy cars in Ghana. I drove right through the WR, and my car had a valid roadworthyness sticker & was insured, and I had a valid Rep Of Ghana licence from DVLA.

I hear international licences are fine, but I got a proper Ghana one - I went through four hours of hell at the DVLA, but finally got the licence.

Bottom line - if you are correctly licenced, and have a correctly registered/insured vehicle, they wave you on.

[Ghanapedia]

@DeeBarber - (cont'd), I think people make up all sorts of reasons for the police checkpoints. See my video from Ghana News about the unroadworthy vehicles they pulled over (I think it's from Sunyani) to get a full understanding of why it's done.

The Ghana Police are getting better - I hear they often follow through with fines, etc, now, as their pay has increased, rather than always taking a bribe like they did before.

Don't worry about it, if you can drive in Ghana, do it.

[Ghanapedia]

@DeeBarber - As for police, if they are pulling you over on trumped-up charges, just tell them you want their service number.

Also, never let them take your licence. Make a photocopy of the licence, and give them that. If they insist on the original, ask them what district they are from & where the HQ is, and tell them you are going to see the local commissioner if you do not get your licence back by the next day.

If not, you probably won't see it back & will be going to the DVLA again.

[DeeBarber]

@Ghanapedia Yes, the Northern Region does seem more disciplined about following traffic guidelines based on this vid. A question, as I was traveling to/from Accra to Takoradi there were a few police check-points. A fellow I met from Germany claimed these are used to harass Obronis. He was an angry-type fellow to start with so I'm sure he contributed to difficulties he'd experienced (said he was jailed once and only freed by calling a Chief/friend) ... (cont'd)

[Orgasmic45]

Stayed in Tamale for a month. Desbahhhhhh<3

[RogerkaJah]

thanks for this video, I am going there for a month this December.

[shakilalili]

Wow! You can tell it was Harmattan huh?! Tamale is a very nice town that I hope to live in someday soon. I love seeing this video because it reminds me of good times. I actually lived in Nalerigu just a few hours northeast from Tamale but we came here often to buy groceries and such.