Dakpema Chief's Palace

The Dakpema Chief's Palace, also written Dakpema Palace, is the traditional palace of the Dakpema, the chief of Tamale, in the Dagbon traditional area of the Northern Region of Ghana. Ghanaian media describe it as one of the chief palaces of the Dagbon Traditional Area, and a 2022 statement from the palace calls it "a sign of civilization which embodies peace and development."

The palace is closely tied to Dagbon festival life. During the 2021 Damba festival, drummers and residents gathered at the Dakpema Palace to pay homage to the chief, and the Dema-Naa of Tamale, Chief Adam Musah, addressed journalists there. The palace's own account traces the Dakpamli Skin to N'Yab Dahamani-Bila (Daabila), described as the originator and Tindaan Gban-Yara of Tamale before the Naa Nyagsi conquest of Dagbon, and states that N'Yab Tamale Dakpema Nsung-Naa accepted the British to settle in Tamale in 1907 and instituted a local court in 1908.

For a visitor, the palace is a working traditional institution rather than a museum set piece, and the experience is shaped by protocol. A visitor account describes round houses built in a circle around a large central compound, entry arranged through the chief's spokesman and his brothers, removal of shoes before entering, and sitting on the floor while speaking to the chief through his spokesman. Visitors should expect to follow the guidance of palace staff on the day.

The palace is included as a stop on commercial Tamale city tours, which is the most straightforward way to arrange a visit. It sits in Tamale, within the Tamale Metropolitan Area and the Dagbon traditional area. Opening hours, entry fees, and whether walk-in visits are possible are not established by the available sources, so these should be confirmed locally before travelling. Coordinates for the palace are recorded from community mapping data rather than an official source.