Government and business leaders from the Virgin Islands, Ghana, and other African nations convened Tuesday for the USVI–Africa Mini Summit, an event speakers described as the start of deeper economic, cultural, and technological partnerships aimed at strengthening ties between the territory and Africa.
The gathering was organized by the Government of the Virgin Islands with support from the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority and its Enterprise Zone Commission, along with partner agencies including VI Next Generation Network (viNGN) and local tourism offices. The event was held under the theme “Building Bridges: Strengthening Trade and Investment Ties Between the U.S. Virgin Islands and Africa.”
“This is an awakening,” Gov. Albert Bryan Jr. told attendees, describing the summit as an effort to “create, once again, the Middle Passage — but in a different way,” by building connections between the U.S. Virgin Islands, Africa, and the wider African diaspora.
Bryan urged residents to view the summit as part of a broader shift in how the territory defines itself, rejecting the notion that Virgin Islanders “come from Denmark” and emphasizing the islands’ African roots. He said the government is seeking to harness new partnerships in trade, tourism, finance, and technology to “grow, not just be left alone,” in a changing global economy.
“We have an opportunity to put together capital and talent and make it grow in any part of the world we choose,” Bryan said, adding that reconnecting with Africa could help build “real prosperity, not only for us, but for them as well.”
Senate President Milton E. Potter called the mini summit “a statement of who we are and how boldly we intend to shape our future,” telling the Ghanaian delegation that lawmakers stand ready to support partnerships that translate into jobs and measurable economic gains in the Virgin Islands.
Prince A. Bart, a board member of the Ghana Tourism Authority, said the “bridge to Africa” theme was “not aspirational language, but a strategy,” describing tourism as “economic infrastructure” that can support small and medium-sized businesses, and open doors to investment in hospitality, real estate, and logistics. He outlined “actionable opportunities,” including joint travel routes, shared heritage programming, workforce exchanges, and diaspora-led tourism initiatives linking Ghana and the Virgin Islands.
Stephen Adams, president and CEO of viNGN, discussed the DiasporaLink initiative, a proposed undersea fiber‑optic cable project that aims to connect the Virgin Islands directly to Africa’s digital networks. Adams said the project would be paired with a satellite partnership aimed at expanding digital connectivity and banking services in underserved parts of Africa.
Nadine Marchena Kean, managing director of the Enterprise Zone Commission, a unit of the Virgin Islands Economic Development Authority, highlighted the cultural component of the summit. She said the event offered an opportunity to share the territory’s history with local students. “We had a few schools represented today, and I spoke with students about our history and culture.”
She also brought attention to the “Made in the USVI” pop-up shop, which is run in collaboration with the Department of Planning and Natural Resources. “The EDA is here showing and selling products made in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Anywhere in the world you go, people present their own, and we are doing just that,” Kean said.
Tourism leaders from the U.S. Virgin Islands and Ghana said future growth must be rooted in culture during a panel on tourism partnerships. The discussion was moderated by Roseanna Farrington, deputy commissioner of the V.I. Department of Tourism, and included officials focused on cruise development, cultural programming, and diaspora engagement.
On cruise tourism, Joseph Boschulte, CEO of the West Indian Company, said rising cruise traffic should complement overnight stays, noting that younger travelers seek “authentic” experiences. Preston Beyer, director of engineering for the Virgin Islands Port Authority, said modern infrastructure and seamless connections between ships, taxis and local attractions are essential for expanding cruise tourism.
Tourism Commissioner Jennifer Matarangas-King said the department is investing in “cultural ambassadors” to work with schools and community groups to reintroduce history, arts, and traditions to young people. “Our most important asset is our people,” she said, warning that the Caribbean loses its distinctiveness if residents lose their sense of identity.
Former Sen. Myron Jackson, a longtime culture bearer, urged Virgin Islanders to treat heritage preservation as a planning priority rather than an afterthought. He described the territory as a “vortex of grace and beauty” that has drawn global powers for centuries, noting that the same strategic location now underpins its tourism appeal. Jackson warned that failing to protect cultural spaces and traditions could erode the very qualities that make the islands unique.
Maame Efua Houadjeto, CEO of the Ghana Tourism Authority, highlighted Ghana’s strategy of using culture to promote the country globally, exporting food, fashion, theater and music. She cited a theatrical production about Mansa Musa that Ghana plans to bring to international stages, including the Virgin Islands, as part of broader cultural exchange and diaspora outreach.
“Tourism is about experience and memories, and it should be beautiful memories,” Houadjeto said.
The USVI–Africa Mini Summit concluded with a renewed emphasis on partnership and long-term collaboration. Organizers said the event was just the first step in an ongoing effort to build trade, tourism, and technological ties, while also strengthening cultural and educational connections between the Virgin Islands, Ghana, and the wider African diaspora.
