Billy Johnson

Joseph William Billy Johnson (17 December 1934 – 27 March 2012) was one of the first converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) in Ghana, and was one of the first stake patriarchs in the country. Prior to his baptism, he had worked for many years to spread the doctrines of the LDS Church to many of his fellow countrymen. He was baptized six months after the 1978 Revelation on Priesthood and among the first to be baptized in the church in Ghana.

Church leadership prior to baptism Johnson was born in Lagos, Nigeria on 17 December 1934. He described his upbringing as Catholic and was a reverend in the Church of the Lord (Aladura). He also worked as an import officer for metal industries. In 1964, Johnson learned about the Book of Mormon from Frank A. Mensah. After receiving a copy of the Book of Mormon, Johnson and Mensah preached from the book and started "Latter-day Saint" congregations in Ghana, independent from any other Mormon sect. Mesnah delegated leadership of the Cape Coast congregation to Johnson, while he led the group in Accra and Rebecca Mould led a group in Sekondi-Takoradi. Their Brigham Young Educational Institute was a primary school in Bubiashie. Mesnah eventually left the congregations, leaving Johnson to lead them all. Somewhere between 500 and 1,000 members attended Johnson's congregations. Johnson and his family lived off of his farm, his retirement pension, and donations from followers, but they were poor. Johnson resigned from his job in 1969 and preached full-time until 1979. Johnson's wife left him after he started preaching full-time.

After the end of the freeze in November 1990, stakes were organized in Accra and Cape Coast. Johnson was called as the first stake patriarch in Ghana In 2004, the Accra Ghana Temple was completed, the LDS Church's second temple to be built in Africa. He died on 27 March 2012.