In spite of the high turnouts recorded at comedy shows in recent times, Ghanaian comedian OB Amponsah has revealed they hardly make gains at such events. 

OB made the statement while contributing to a discussion on challenges faced by creatives in fulfillment of their tax obligations on Joy FM’s Showbiz A-Z on Saturday July 1, 2023.

He said the cost of production, logistics and taxes make it impossible to earn meaning profits from their events. 

“You incur a lot of debts and when you are done, you have to go and pay GRA from your debts. I think it is tough. That is when we start asking what the government has done for is,” he told the host Kwame Dadzie. 

“I am telling you the truth that for all the shows we have done, we barely break even. But we believe that stand-up comedy is a growing industry. What we do is that we motivate ourselves that it will be better then we continue and gradually it is getting better,” he added.

He appealed to the appropriate authorities to be lenient on showbiz events when it comes to tax payment.

"I feel like some of these shows, there should be a bit of leniency from the government. Especially, if you are not giving us grants at least you should spare us some taxes,” he further noted.

In her response to concerns about taxes on complementary tickets and the request to give tax holiday to fledgling entertainment companies, Beatrice Nyawuto, the Principal Revenue Officer at the Debt Management Compliance and Enforcement unit of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) said the stakeholders of the creative industry should collectively present a petition to Cmmissioner General of the GRA in this regard. 

OB Amponsah has been organising his personal comedy specials for the past few years. Other Ghanaian comedians like DKB, Comedian Warris, Jacinta, MJ the Comedian, Romanus, Lekzy DeComic, Putogo, among others have all kept the comedy culture alive with their periodic events. 

On Saturday, July 1, 2023, OB Amponsah and Lekzy DeComic staged a show dubbed ‘Journey to the South’ at the National Theatre.  

Watch the discussion on TAXATION IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY on Showbiz A-Z below: