BY Nadia Ntiamoah
Catholic journalists across Africa have been charged to ensure that artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a tool for human development rather than a threat to dignity, truth, and peace.
This call was made at the close of the 2025 Congress of the African Catholic Union of the Press (UCAP), which took place in Accra from August 10–17.
The week-long gathering, hosted by the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) in partnership with the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners-Ghana (CAMP-G), brought together more than 100 Catholic journalists and media professionals from over 20 African countries and beyond.
Themed “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence (AI),” the Congress served as a platform for participants to reflect on how rapid technological advancements, particularly AI, are reshaping communication, governance, agriculture, and social life across the continent.
Balancing Promise and Peril of AI
Delegates acknowledged AI’s potential to transform Africa through eco-innovation, agriculture, water management, and renewable energy.
However, they also sounded the alarm on emerging risks such as misinformation, fake online identities, and addictive digital platforms, which continue to undermine democracy, public trust, and youth development.
Resource persons at the Congress urged Catholic journalists to strengthen ethical communication, invest in fact-checking, and promote digital literacy.
“Artificial Intelligence must serve humanity, not enslave it. As Catholic journalists, our task is to ensure technology uplifts truth, dignity, and peace,” said Charles Ayetan of Togo, who was elected as UCAP’s new president during the Congress.
New Leadership to Steer UCAP
One of the major highlights of the event was the election of a new UCAP Executive Committee to serve from 2025 to 2028. The new officers are:
Charles Ayetan (Togo) – President
Frank Mugabe (Uganda) – 1st Vice-President
Aimé Rodrigue Dembélé (Mali) – 2nd Vice-President
Martine Marie Sylvina Lajoie (Mauritius) – Secretary General
Franklin Anane Gyimah (Ghana) – Treasurer
The leadership was formally blessed and commissioned by Rev. Fr. Alexis Dembélé, UCAP’s Ecclesiastical Advisor, who reminded participants that “the media is a sacred trust. In the digital age, Catholic communicators must remain witnesses of truth and hope, not just transmitters of information.”
Resolutions
The Congress concluded with a series of resolutions aimed at guiding Catholic journalists and communicators in Africa.
These include:
Advocating ethical AI development rooted in transparency, accountability, and human dignity.
Enhancing fact-checking systems and digital literacy campaigns to combat fake news and manipulation.
Reaffirming journalism that is people-centred, empathetic, and rooted in critical thinking.
Supporting clergy and church leaders with training on AI’s ethical and pastoral implications.
Pressing African governments to invest in digital infrastructure and research.
Delegates collectively pledged to remain “guardians of truth, missionaries of peace, and voices of the voiceless,” ensuring that Africa’s digital future is aligned with justice, peace, and the common good.
