Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, joined the chiefs and people of Whuti in the Volta Region to celebrate this year’s Tortroyeye Festival, held under the theme “Our Future: Bridging the Digital Divide.”
The festival, also known as “The Diaspora Festival,” brought together indigenes from across Ghana and the diaspora to celebrate their rich cultural heritage while advancing a shared vision of digital inclusion and community development.
Delivering his keynote address as Guest Speaker, Samuel Nartey George extended warm greetings from the President, John Dramani Mahama, and commended the leadership of Togbi Nyaho Tamakloe VI, Miafiaga of Anlo and Paramount Chief of the Kome Shime Traditional Council, for aligning the celebration with a forward-looking theme that blends culture with technology.
“The theme for this year’s celebration could not be more timely or relevant. Technology continues to transform how we live, learn, and work, yet access to digital tools and opportunities remains unequal. Bridging this divide is not just a technical challenge, it is a moral, economic, and social imperative,” he stated.
The Minister reaffirmed government’s commitment to promoting digital inclusion through key programmes such as the Rural Telephony Project, the Digital Ghana Agenda, National Girls-In-ICT Programme, and the One Million Coders Programme, all aimed at extending broadband access, promoting digital literacy, and creating new opportunities for young Ghanaians.
He disclosed that Whuti would be considered as one of the training centres under the One Million Coders Programme, to equip the youth with critical digital skills to thrive in today’s technology-driven economy.
Highlighting global connectivity gaps, the Minister noted that as of 2024, about 2.6 billion people, approximately 32 % of the world’s population, remain offline, with developing nations experiencing the lowest connectivity levels. He stressed the importance of ensuring that Ghana’s rural and underserved communities are not left behind in the digital era.
“Culture and technology are not enemies; they are allies in building the Ghana we want. Our ancestors built bridges of unity across clans and regions, today, it is our turn to build bridges across the digital divide that connect Whuti to Accra, Ghana to the world, and our traditions to tomorrow,” he said.
Samuel Nartey George commended the community’s initiative to establish an ultra-modern ICT laboratory for Whuti and its neighbouring communities, describing it as “a legacy that will empower generations of young people to dream, innovate, and thrive.”
He pledged his personal contribution towards the project and announced additional support from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) to furnish the ICT centre with digital equipment and computers.
Describing his visit as a personal homecoming, the Minister acknowledged his wife, Vera George, as a proud daughter of Whuti and expressed appreciation to the people for their warmth and kindness.
In his remarks, Togbi Nyaho Tamakloe VI expressed gratitude to the Minister for honouring the invitation and for demonstrating genuine commitment to rural digital transformation. He noted that this year’s theme reflected Whuti’s determination to embrace the future through innovation and connectivity.
The celebration, held at the Whuti E.P. Primary School Park, featured traditional performances, cultural displays, and solidarity messages from the diaspora, reinforcing the community’s unity, pride, and commitment to building a digitally inclusive future.
