When you get to Tamale, the capital city of the Northern region of Ghana, there is something fascinating that grabs your attention almost immediately. The sheer number of motorbikes will wow you if you grew up in the Southern part of Ghana or have lived in the Southern part of Ghana your entire life.
As if that is not enough, you will be in awe of the ladies you see riding motorbikes and the ease with which they do it.
Motorbikes are about the most popular means of transport in the northern regions of Ghana, particularly in Tamale. Its popularity is strange because it is not the most congested or regions but almost every household in Tamale owns a motorbike.
Speaking to Nafisa and Nimatu, both students who use their motorbikes for their daily routines, they cited convenience as the major reason why they prefer getting around town on the motorbike.
“Of course it is very easy for us the ladies to ride the motorbikes around town. We have chosen the motorbikes because for some of us there is no alternative, and reliable means of transport to the market or town. But when you have the motorbike you can easily go to and fro town,” said a cheerful looking Nafisa,
Nimatu, the other lady rider GhanaWeb spoke to agrees with Nafisa about the convenience of owning and riding a motorbike around town, she adds that, her brother was the one who taught her the art of riding a bike.
“My brother taught me how to ride and I have been riding for 2 years now. Right now I have been sent by my dad to go and buy some stuff for the house. The bike belongs to my dad and I uses it when he is not using it or when he sends me.”
The only downside to all these ladies riding a motorbike is that they hardly wear a safety helmet to protect them.
Nafisa offers some explanations as to why she was not wearing a helmet claiming that “I was just in the house and I had to rush to the market which is a very short distance.” But she gives herself away when she added “this place when you wear a helmet and others don’t wear it, they look at you like you are a very different person. That is why I don’t wear it.” Nimatu, could not give us a reason why she does not wear a helmet but agrees upon our advice to begin wearing it for her own safety.
For those who don’t know, Tamale is mostly inhabited by the Mole-Dagomba linguistic group. It is a nodal city that serves as convergence zone as well as the commercial capital of the three northern regions.
It is one city in Ghana where you can find an architectural blend of traditional slum and modern buildings with a hospitable people with a great respect for their traditional political system.
The settlers brought this political system over four hundred years ago when they first crystallized in the mid land of the north. In Tamale, one can be treated to both local and exotic cuisines in any of its 2 or 3 star hotels like Gariba Lodge, Mariam Hotel etc. The city happens to be the cereal, Yam and Meat breadbasket of the country so these sell cheaply in the local markets.
Tamale is reputed to be one of the fastest growing cities in West Africa. Even though limited in natural resources, seasonal farming is the major occupation of the natives who receive strangers with open arms.
