Congress of African Catholic Journalists opens in Accra

The week-long Congress of the Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP), also known as the African Catholic Union of the Press, has opened in Accra with a call on media practitioners to uphold human values in the fast-evolving age of artificial intelligence.

The event, which began today, 10 August, at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), will run until 17 August 2025.

Dignitaries at the opening ceremony included the Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Archbishop Julien Kabore; a representative of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, Monsignor Janvier Yameogo; the President of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Most Rev Matthew Gyamfi; and the Episcopal Bishop in charge of Communication in Ghana, Most Rev John Baptist Attakruh.  Representatives of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), SIGNIS Africa, the Ghana Journalists Association, and other partner organisations were also in attendance.

Held under the theme “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence”, the 2025 UCAP Congress aims to examine how new media technologies and artificial intelligence are reshaping communication and influencing daily life. Discussions will also explore strategies for safeguarding ethics, dignity, and justice in media practice.

The gathering brings together scholars, experts, policymakers, corporate leaders, and journalists from across the continent. Deliberations will cover a broad range of issues, with recommendations expected to guide governments, media organisations, and society at large. Outcomes from the Congress will also shape UCAP’s future training programmes and professional guidelines.

Beyond the central theme, the Congress provides UCAP an opportunity to review its mission, assess progress since its last continental assembly, and chart a path for a stronger and more impactful future. Elections for new leadership will also be held.

UCAP, recognised by the Holy See, serves as a continental platform for Catholic and non-Catholic communication practitioners, academics, and researchers in both secular and religious institutions.

The association promotes ethical journalism, Christian values of peace and justice, professional training, and constructive networking among members. It also works closely with the Catholic Church in Africa at national, regional, and continental levels to advance media as a tool for empowerment, particularly among marginalised communities.