Tamale (pronounced ) officially called Tamale Metropolitan District is the capital town of the Northern Region of Ghana. Tamale is Ghana's third city and the second largest by area size. It has a 2013 projected population of 562,919 according to the 2012 census, making it the third largest settlement in Ghana and the fastest growing city in West Africa. The town is located north of Accra. Most residents of Tamale are Muslims, as reflected by the multitude of mosques in Tamale, most notably the Central Mosque. The Sunnites and the Ahmadiyyans also have their own central mosques, north of the town centre along Bolgatanga Road.