Ghanaian humanist and activist Roslyn Mould has been honoured with the Distinguished Services to Humanism Award for her work promoting Humanism in Africa.

The award was presented to Mould during the World Humanist Congress and Annual General Assembly held in Ottawa, Canada, from August 7 to 9, 2026.

The event, organised by Humanists International in collaboration with its member organisation, Humanist Canada, brought together more than 500 humanists from 41 countries.

Held under the theme “Humanism As Resistance,” the congress focused on issues including non-religious ethics, rising authoritarianism, religious nationalism and anti-science disinformation.

The event also provided a platform for activists, scholars and leaders to discuss challenges facing the global humanist movement and explore areas for collaboration.

Mould, who is stepping down as Vice President of the Board of Humanists International, served on the Board from 2019 and became Vice President in 2023.

She is the first African to have served as Vice President of the organisation.

Reflecting on her departure, Mould said: “As I conclude my tenure, I do so with a heart filled with gratitude and appreciation. It has been one of the greatest privileges to serve this remarkable organization. I am deeply honored and sincerely thankful for the confidence and trust that Humanists International has placed in me by electing me to serve our organization consistently for 12 good years.”

Mould is the President of Accra Atheists and the first West African Humanist Network Coordinator. She has also served as a Board Member of the Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) Leadership Network in the United Kingdom, Secretary and Chair of the Young Humanists International African Working Group, and former President of the Humanist Association of Ghana.

Her work has focused on issues including freedom of religion or belief, feminism, anti-witchcraft campaigns, environmental awareness and LGBTI+ rights, as well as building communities of atheists and agnostics in Ghana and across Africa.

On receiving the award, Mould expressed appreciation to Humanists International, her colleagues and her sister, Monika Mould, for their support throughout her work as a humanist and activist.

The Distinguished Services to Humanism Award has previously been given to Nigerian humanist Dr Leo Igwe in 2017. Mould is the first Ghanaian and African woman to receive the award, according to information provided by the organisers.

Other Africans who have received Humanists International awards include Nigerian author Wole Soyinka, who received the International Humanist Award in 2014, and Mubarak Bala, who received the 2021 Freedom of Thought Award.

During the congress, Mould participated in several panel discussions, including a session on “What are we resisting?” where she spoke about African Humanist resistance.

She also discussed the first atheist billboard campaign in Africa and its impact.

On the second day of the congress, Mould chaired the final session, which featured British philosopher and writer Prof A C Grayling as speaker on the topic “On Hope.”

The General Assembly ended with plans for the next World Humanist Congress, scheduled to take place in Lima, Peru, in August 2027.