UCAP Congress in Accra: 150 Delegates from 30 Nations Address AI and Human Values

Accra: In August 2025, Accra will host an extraordinary gathering at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) as UCAP the Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse  stages its triennial Congress, writes Peter Martey Agbeko, Member of the Organising Committee.

Under the poignant theme “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence,” this landmark event will unite 150 delegates representing 30 countries, spanning journalists, academic researchers, ecclesiastical communicators, tech leaders, NGO actors, Vatican envoys and government representatives.

UCAP is a pan‑African, independent catholic media association, committed to advancing professionalism, solidarity, freedom of expression and ethical discourse across media. As a member of the organising committee, I am honoured to witness how this Congress embodies our mission fostering networking, dialogue, and capacity‑building among Catholic communicators across the continent and beyond.

Why Accra? A Host City that Mirrors the Theme

Ghana is more than a host; it’s a symbol. Nestled on the Gulf of Guinea, the country embodies a vibrant harmony of tradition and innovation, a story told in its kaleidoscope of ethnic groups, coastal breezes and rhythmic cultural festivals.

Accra, in particular, has surged as a cosmopolitan hub a city shaping digital entrepreneurship alongside its colonial landmarks, bustling markets and thriving arts scene an apt reflection of our Congress theme.

Rigorous Deliberations on AI and Human Values

Over eight days (10–17 August), delegates will engage in cutting‑edge discourse through plenary sessions, workshops, panels and collaborative strategy meetings. Sub‑themes include:

• Corporate social responsibilityin AI deployment
• Eco‑friendly start‑upspowered by AI: risks and possibilities
• Distortions and Reprogramming of Social Reality in social/digital media
• Pathways to Developing Digital Wellbeing
• Ecological education & sustainable resource stewardship
• Media’s role in promoting Synodalitywithin the African Church

Training, Outputs and Legacy

The Congress aims to train 150 media practitioners in the ethical and human‑centred use of AI. Our outcomes include:

• Strategic action plansfor governments, corporations and civil society
• A robust agenda for media discourse on AI’s societal impact
• Frameworks for ecological educationand media literacy across national UCAP branches
• Post‑Congress monitoring through member media reports and regional refresher programmes

Blending Conference with Culture

While delegates tackle pressing media‑tech issues, Accra invites them to immerse themselves in Ghana’s rich heritage:

• Kakum National Park’s iconic canopy walkway
• The solemnity of Cape Coast & Elmina Castlesand their “Door of No Return”
• The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum— a tribute to Pan‑African vision
• Accra’s Arts Centre a vibrant marketplace for crafts, kente, beads and wood carvings
• Beachside relaxation at Labadi
• Cultural exchanges at Homowo, Aboakyer festivals, and lively urban markets

As delegates reflect on AI and ethics, these sites offer cultural depth and renewal an embodiment of UCAP’s twin goals of technological insight and human empathy.

The Organising Committee at the Helm

Chaired by Mrs Victoria Lugey and Sir Ben Assorow, the Congress committee is a blend of local and continental expertise. It includes UCAP President Charles Ayetan, CAMP‑G President Stephen Asante, academics like Prof Ben Nnamdi Emenyeonu and Dr Anthony Bonnah-Koomson, and practitioners such as myself, Peter Martey Agbeko, Christian Kpesese and Stephen Boakye, and our Catholic clergy represented by Fr Rex Vegbey and Fr Dieu Donne Davor. Our collective purpose is to ensure this Congress leaves a lasting ethical legacy in African media.

Akwaaba to a New Ethical Horizon

With 150 delegates from 30 countries converging in Accra, this UCAP Congress is more than a conference — it is a continental movement. It calls us to shape technology with human values and to amplify media as a vessel for justice, unity, transparency, ecological care, and dignity.

As the cool Ghanaian August welcomes us, we stand poised at a crossroads: to chart a media future where AI is harnessed not at the expense of humanity, but in its service. Akwaaba. Welcome to Ghana. Welcome to tomorrow’s ethical conversation.

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