President John Dramani Mahama has indicated that the Tamale Water Expansion and Yendi Water projects are two of the most important projects of his government in the Northern Region.

According to the president, his government will ensure the completion of the Yendi Water Project before the end of his administration while expansion works will be done in Tamale.

President Mahama was speaking at the Gbewaa Palace on Saturday when he paid a courtesy call on Ndan Yaa Naa as part of his "Thank You" to the Northern Region.

"There are two important water projects that we intend to undertake during the tenure of this administration and one of them is the Yendi Water Supply Project. Ndan Ya-Naa, I can assure that In shaa Allah by the time I come to say goodbye at the end of my administration, Yendi will have enough water supply" President Mahama pledged.

Mr Mahama promised to commence work on the Tamale Water expansion project as part of efforts to meet the demands of Tamale's growing population.

"Tamale is also suffering a shortage of water, perennial water shortages and that is because the population of Tamale continues to increase exponentially and so at every point, we must plan to bring more water to Tamale and so the other priority project is to expand the Tamale water supply. This time our intention is to draw the water from the south of Tamale, that is from as far as Yapei on the White Volta and bring that water through Tamale South to supplement the water that we currently bring from Dalun so that we can increase the amount of water Tamale is getting" he explained.

The president also reiterated his government's commitment to building an ultramodern hospital in Yendi, refurbishing the Tamale Central and West Hospitals, and further upgrading the Tamale Teaching Hospital to ensure the best health care services in the region, in fulfillment of his campaign promises made during the 2024 election campaigns.

Ndan Ya-Naa Abukari II on his part called on the government to rename the Tamale International Airport to Gbewaa International Airport.

According to Ndan Ya Naa, the proposed name was reached in consultation with the King of Mamprugu, Nayiri Naa Bohagu Mahami Abdulai Sheriga II, and the Regent of Bimbilla, Nyelinbolgu Naa Abdulai Andani Dasana.

Ndan Ya-Naa said the airport's renaming will enable the people it serves to appreciate it.

"Such a huge investment needs to be appreciated by the people that it serves and in consultation with the Nayiri and the Bimbilla Gbanglana, we want the airport to be renamed the Gbewaa International Airport," he said.

Ndan Ya-Naa Abukari II who was speaking through his spokesperson, Zangbalung Naa Jacob Mahama Ndan bemoaned what he said seemed to be the abandonment of construction works at the airport, appealing to the President to see to the completion of phase three of the airport, which includes a hajj terminal.

This he added will enable the airport to serve the people better.

"The phase three of the project that included a hajj terminal seem to have been abandoned. We want to entreat you to start the phase three of project, so that the airport can handle all that it was intended to do" Ndan Ya-Naa appealed.