The Catholic Church in Ghana is preparing for the release of Pope Leo’s first encyclical, titled “Magnifica Humanitas.” This significant document will be launched in the Vatican on Monday, 25 May, and aims to align the Church’s response to technological advancements with the Pope’s guidance.
A high-level workshop focused on ethical and pastoral responses to emerging technologies has just concluded in Accra. This strategic gathering, held at the National Catholic Secretariat, brought together fifty senior Church leaders, including Diocesan Communications Directors and members of the Conference of Major Superiors of Religious Ghana. The workshop received formal approval from the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, reflecting the Church's increasing global concern about the ethical implications surrounding artificial intelligence (AI).
During the workshop, participants aimed to transition the Church's engagement with technology from passive use to active ethical governance. The discussions were anchored on the Rome Call for AI Ethics, a Vatican-backed framework established in 2020 to guide AI development and usage in a manner that respects human dignity. Facilitators Maria Amparo Alonso and Luca Baraldi, from the Ethical Artificial Intelligence for Human Development initiative, led conversations centered around ethics, education, and rights.
The meeting in Ghana also highlighted broader global inequalities affecting the AI landscape. While the country is making strides in developing a national AI strategy, Africa accounts for less than one percent of global data center capacity. This raises concerns regarding reliance on external systems and the marginalization of local perspectives in the tech domain.
Participants examined the human and environmental costs associated with AI, including the hazardous cobalt mining in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the psychological toll on data labeling workers throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Environmental issues were also raised regarding the significant water demands of large-scale computing systems.
Another critical point of discussion was the emerging threats that Church institutions face, including deepfake videos, voice cloning, and various fraudulent digital tools aimed at manipulating financial transactions. In response, the workshop concluded with a directive emphasizing that urgency must never surpass verification, underscoring the importance of safeguarding trust and accountability.
The outcome of this gathering was the development of a practical framework aimed at guiding the adoption of digital tools within Ghana's dioceses. Proposed measures include ensuring alignment with pastoral values, protecting personal data, and maintaining human oversight in all AI-assisted processes.
