A groundbreaking moment for the secular community in Africa has arrived with the unveiling of the continent’s first-ever atheist billboard in Accra, Ghana.
Sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) 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, prominently displayed in the bustling downtown business district on Cantonments Road near Osu, Accra, reads: “Don’t believe in God? You are not alone.” It affirms the presence of secular individuals in Ghana and beyond. The display is part of an initiative aimed at fostering awareness, encouraging open dialogue about secularism, and supporting the growing community of freethinkers in the region. It features a photo montage of activities that Accra Atheists members have engaged in, even including a picture of group President Roslyn Mould being interviewed by FFRF Co-Presidents Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor in FFRF’s studio in the United States.
“This is a dream come true,” says 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 Mould, Kojo Tetteh Tetteh and about 20 others. Under Mould’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.
Mould’s journey to atheism is deeply personal. She was baptized and raised Catholic, attending Catholic schools throughout her childhood and youth. Eventually, she became a communicant and confirmand. She deconverted in 2007 while attending university, citing reason and humanism as her guiding principles.
Renowned 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.
FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie 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. A number of other African countries, such as 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. Mould noted initial concerns about whether a billboard company would accept the design due to religious sensitivities. Fortunately, her group found an open-minded advertising partner and a graphic designer, both Christian, 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.
For more information, visit ffrf.org or follow updates from Accra Atheists on Facebook and X.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is a U.S.-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting the constitutional principle of separation between state and church and educating the public on matters of nontheism. With nearly 42,000 members, FFRF advocates for freethinkers’ rights across the globe.
