As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly reshapes global communication and decision-making, Catholic media professionals across Africa are converging in Accra to confront the ethical dilemmas the technology presents — and to assert a moral framework for its application.
From August 10–17, 2025, the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) will host the triennial Congress of the Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP), under the theme: “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Expected to draw around 150 delegates from 30 countries, the Congress will bring together journalists, church communicators, tech leaders, scholars, and Vatican representatives to assess how Catholic media can influence AI’s development in Africa, ensuring it enhances — rather than erodes — core human values.
Organisers say the Congress will go beyond theoretical debates by offering practical interventions. These include the ethical training of 150 media practitioners in AI use, the drafting of policy frameworks for institutions and governments, and a continental media action plan addressing AI’s societal implications.
“This is about reclaiming our voice in the digital age — to ensure that technology serves people, not the other way around,” said UCAP President Charles Ayetan.
With a spotlight on issues such as AI’s role in misinformation, digital wellbeing, ecological responsibility, and media literacy, the gathering will feature high-level panels, technical workshops, and thematic forums. Catholic perspectives on synodality — promoting listening, inclusion, and shared discernment — will also shape the discussions.
Ghana’s selection as host reflects both its growing digital footprint and its significance as a beacon of cultural resilience in Africa. Participants will also have the chance to immerse themselves in Ghana’s heritage, with optional tours to historic sites like Cape Coast Castle and Kakum National Park.
The Congress is being organised by a team co-chaired by Mrs Victoria Lugey and Sir Ben Assorow, with support from key figures including Mr Stephen Asante (President, CAMPG), Prof Ben Nnamdi Emenyeonu, Dr Anthony Bonnah-Koomson, and Vatican liaison Fr Dieu Donne Davor.
As AI becomes more deeply embedded in African societies, UCAP’s Congress is poised to offer a timely reminder: that technological progress must remain tethered to ethical values, communal dignity, and the moral voice of faith.
