This year’s Tortroyeye Festival, with the theme “Our Future: Bridging the Digital Divide,” was celebrated yesterday by the chiefs and residents of Whuti in the Volta Region with the participation of Hon. Samuel Nartey George (MP), Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations.
In addition to celebrating their rich cultural history, the event, also known as “The Diaspora Festival,” brought together indigenous people from all around Ghana and the diaspora to further a common goal of community development and digital inclusion.
In his keynote speech as a guest speaker, Hon. Samuel Nartey George complimented the leadership of Togbi Nyaho Tamakloe VI, Miafiaga of Anlo and the Paramount Chief of the Kome Shime Traditional Council, for coordinating the celebration with a forward-thinking theme that combines culture and technology. He also conveyed warm greetings from President H. E. John Dramani Mahama.
“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 said.
Through important initiatives like the National Girls-In-ICT Program, the Digital Ghana Agenda, the Rural Telephony Project, and the One Million Coders Program, which all seek to increase broadband access, foster digital literacy, and open up new opportunities for young Ghanaians, the Minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing digital inclusion.
He said that Whuti would be regarded as one of the training facilities under the One Million Coders Program, which aims to give young people the essential digital skills they need to prosper in the modern, tech-driven economy.
The Minister drew attention to the disparities in global connectivity, pointing out that as of 2024, roughly 2.6 billion people—or 32% of the world’s population—remain offline, with developing countries having the lowest levels of connectivity.
He emphasised how crucial it is to make sure Ghana’s underprivileged and rural areas are not left behind in the digital age.
“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 stated.
The community’s effort to build a state-of-the-art ICT lab for Whuti and its surrounding settlements was praised by Hon. Samuel Nartey George, who called it “a legacy that will empower generations of young people to dream, innovate, and thrive.”
He promised to contribute personally to the initiative and disclosed further funding from the Ghana Investment Fund for Electronic Communications (GIFEC) to outfit the ICT centre with PCs and other digital devices.
The Minister thanked the people for their warmth and hospitality and described his visit as a personal homecoming. He also praised his wife, Mrs. Vera George, as a proud daughter of Whuti.
In his speech, Togbi Nyaho Tamakloe VI thanked the Minister for accepting the invitation and proving his sincere interest in rural digital development.
He said that the theme for this year mirrored Whuti’s resolve to embrace the future via innovation and connectivity.
The festival, which took place in the Whuti E.P. Primary School Park, highlighted the community’s solidarity messages, pride, and dedication to creating a technologically inclusive future through traditional performances, cultural displays, and other events.
Source: newsthemegh.com