First atheist billboard goes up in Africa!

A groundbreaking moment for the secular community in Africa has arrived with unveiling of the continent’s first atheist billboard in Accra, Ghana.

Sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, in partnership with Accra Atheists, this historic installation marks a significant milestone in visibility and advocacy for African humanists, atheists, agnostics and skeptics.

The billboard is prominently displayed in the downtown business district of Osu, Accra. It affirms the presence of secular individuals in Ghana and beyond. The initiative aims to foster awareness, encourage open dialogue about secularism and support the growing community of freethinkers in the region.

“This is a dream come true,” said Roslyn Mould, co-founder and president of Accra Atheists. “This billboard represents not just visibility, but validation for those who often feel isolated in their nonbelief. Thanks to FFRF’s unwavering support, we’ve achieved something historic. This moment will never be forgotten.”

Accra Atheists was founded in 2022 by Roslyn Mould and Kojo Tetteh Tetteh. It has only 20 members, many of whom have since relocated abroad. Under Roslyn’s leadership, the group has become a visible and influential voice for secularism in Ghana. Mould is also a prominent figure in the global humanist movement, serving as the first African vice president of Humanists International and holding leadership roles with various humanist and LGBTQ-plus organizations.

Renowned Nigerian human rights advocate Dr. Leo Igwe hailed the billboard as a potential “pilgrimage site” for African atheists, underscoring its significance in normalizing secular identities in a region where religious belief remains deeply ingrained in daily life and governance.

Gaylor emphasized the initiative’s importance: “We are honored to support this courageous step toward freethought visibility in Africa. Everyone deserves the right to openly express their beliefs — or lack thereof — without fear. We hope this billboard sparks important conversations and strengthens the secular movement in Ghana and beyond.”

Feedback on the billboard has been mostly positive, particularly from the international humanist community. Countries like Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa are already planning similar efforts. Locally, curiosity about the billboard has grown, with many reaching out to learn more about atheism and humanism. However, the project was not without its challenges. Roslyn noted initial concerns about whether a billboard company would accept the design due to religious sensitivities. Fortunately, they found an open-minded advertising partner and a Christian graphic designer willing to help bring the vision to life.

The billboard seeks to achieve several goals:

• Promote atheism and humanism as valid belief systems.

• Normalize atheism in a society where it is often misinterpreted as occultism or witchcraft.

• Increase membership within the 1 percent of Ghanaians who identify as nonreligious (an estimated 352,000 people).

• Advocate for recognition of atheists by the state and government.

While local media coverage in Accra has not yet been extensive, the billboard has already garnered international attention, with articles in development in Canada, Australia, and Nigeria. Organizers are optimistic about its impact and hope to build upon this momentum to further advocate for secular rights and representation in Ghana and across Africa.