Workshop in Ghana to promote ethical use of Artificial Intelligence

A few days before the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s first encyclical on artificial intelligence (AI), a workshop was organized in Ghana on this technological revolution. A significant step by the Catholic Church in addressing the ethical challenges and opportunities posed by AI.

The Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), in collaboration with Ethical Artificial Intelligence for Human Development (EAiD) and the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), organized a Workshop on “Artificial Intelligence” (AI) and Ethics for Catholic Organizations in Accra from May 19 to 21, 2026.

Hosted at the National Catholic Secretariat under the theme “Artificial Intelligence: A Catholic Perspective from Ethical Principles to Critical Use,” the workshop brought together fifty pastoral agents and Catholic communication practitioners for formation on the responsible use of AI in evangelization and communication.

The sessions were facilitated by Maria Amparo Alonso Escobar and Luca Baraldi, who explored both the promise and dangers of AI technologies. Participants examined critical issues including human rights, environmental impacts, voice cloning, mobile fraud, child exploitation risks, and the hidden social costs behind AI infrastructure and data extraction.

AI is not neutral

Addressing the workshop, the facilitators emphasized the need for awareness and education, warning that AI systems without adequate safeguards could expose vulnerable groups, especially children, to exploitation and manipulation. She also highlighted concerns about psychological impacts and the increasing carbon emissions linked to AI technologies.

They also focused on what he described as the “hidden fabric of AI,” drawing attention to invisible labour, data governance, and technological asymmetry. Referring to Ghana’s National AI Strategy Vision 2025-2035, participants reflected on the country’s eight strategic pillars, including education, infrastructure, youth employment, data governance, and public-sector AI.

Throughout the three-day workshop, participants were encouraged to develop critical thinking and ethical discernment in using digital tools and social media content platforms. Organizers stressed that AI is not neutral but a powerful force shaping society, trust, and human relationships.

The workshop concluded with a call for the Church in Africa to engage AI proactively, placing human dignity, transparency, and the common good at the centre of technological development and pastoral communication.

Charles Ayetan