City profile: Tamale, Ghana

Tamale is the capital of the Northern Region of Ghana. It emerged as a growth point for northern Ghana upon independence in 1957, and has since become the third largest urban centre in the country. The city has the second highest annual population growth rates after Kumasi Metropolitan Area. In this paper, we profile Tamale regarding its social, economic and spatial growth dynamics, transformation and governance as well as highlight the implications of the city's growth trajectories for its sustainable futures. •Tamale in its modern form was of colonial creation.•Colonial investment and development policies constrained the growth of Tamale.•Tamale emerged as a growth centre in northern Ghana upon Ghana's independence in 1957.•Neoliberal globalisation has had significant impact on the growth of the city.•The growth of the city has both opportunities and challenges for its sustainable futures.