The Military Task Force in the Northern Region has relaxed the curfew hours imposed on the Dagbon Traditional Area following the assassination of Ya-Na Yakubu Andani II, on March 27, 2002. The curfew hours have been changed from between 1900 hours and 0600 hours to between 2000 hours and 0500 hours. The General Officer Commanding the Northern Command, Brigadier George Aryiku said the change had become necessary following a plea by chiefs, religious leaders and traditional rulers to relax the curfew hours.

Brigadier Aryiku said the leaders have undertaken to ensure that the people abided by the curfew hours and the terms of the state of emergency. The curfew has turned Tamale and surrounding areas into a ghost town at night as there is no longer any activity except vehicles of security personnel that ply the streets. Farmers have also complained that they could not stay longer on their farms and this might affect their productivity. People who work during the night no longer do so and this is affecting their standard of living. Vehicles coming to or through Tamale have to stay over-night at the barriers.