UCAP Congress: Catholic Journalists Urged to Integrate AI with Human Values
Accra – “Artificial Intelligence must benefit humanity and not overshadow it. As Catholic journalists, we bear the responsibility to ensure that technology upholds truth, dignity, and peace,” asserted Charles Ayetan from Togo, the newly elected President of the African Catholic Union of the Press (UCAP).
These remarks were made at the conclusion of the 2025 UCAP Congress held in Accra, Ghana.
The Congress, which took place from 10–17 August, convened over 100 Catholic journalists and media professionals from more than 20 African nations and beyond.
Co-organized with the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners-Ghana (CAMP-G), the week-long Congress explored the theme: “Balancing Technological Advancement with the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI).”
Discussions focused on AI’s potential in fields such as eco-innovation, agriculture, water management, and renewable energy.
Concerns were raised regarding misinformation, fake identities, and addictive digital platforms.
Experts stressed the urgent need for ethical communication, media accountability, and digital literacy throughout Africa.
A pivotal moment occurred with the election of a new UCAP Executive Committee for the term 2025–2028:
- Charles Ayetan (Togo) – President
- Frank Mugabi (Uganda) – 1st Vice-President
- Aimé Rodrigue Dembélé (Mali) – 2nd Vice-President
- Martine Marie Sylvina Lajoie (Mauritius) – Secretary General
- Franklin Anane Gyimah (Ghana) – Treasurer
The new leadership was officially blessed and commissioned by Rev. Fr. Alexis Dembélé, UCAP’s Ecclesiastical Advisor, who reminded the audience: “The media is a sacred trust. In this digital age, Catholic communicators must be bearers of truth and hope, not just transmitters of information.”
The Congress also adopted crucial resolutions to guide Catholic communicators and the broader Church in Africa, which include:
- Promoting ethical AI development grounded in transparency, accountability, and respect for human dignity.
- Enhancing fact-checking and digital literacy to combat misinformation.
- Strengthening human-centered journalism based on empathy and critical thinking.
- Advocating for clergy education on the ethical and pastoral facets of AI.
- Calling on governments to invest in digital infrastructure and research.
Delegates reaffirmed their commitment to being guardians of truth, missionaries of peace, and advocates for the voiceless, ensuring that technology serves the common good.
Organizers emphasized that the 2025 UCAP Congress marks a significant step in fostering a media culture that is both technologically advanced and deeply rooted in Christian and African values, promoting peace, justice, and the dignity of every individual.