The Ghanaian comedy scene has been on a quest to break through borders and gain international recognition in the last few years, after recently getting recognition based on the efforts of some of the comedians in the Country.
One of the leading forces in this movement, OB Amponsah, who is a renowned Ghanaian comedian and an optometrist, recently shed light on the challenges faced by Ghanaian comedians, emphasizing their aspirations to go beyond the borders of Ghana.
He recently mentioned how he and Lekzy Decomic missed out on an opportunity to perform at a comedy festival in South Africa because they failed to get a visa.
In another heartfelt Facebook post on September 2, 2023, OB Amponsah shared his disappointment at missing out on a golden opportunity at the Bloemfontein International Comedy Festival due to visa complications.
He expressed gratitude to those who tried to help secure the necessary documentation but lamented that the visa confirmation came too late for any meaningful action because the event’s organizers had already found replacements by then.
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OB Amponsah’s post also shed light on the challenges faced by the Ghanaian comedy industry. Despite the wealth of talent in the country, the stand-up comedy scene is grappling with severe funding shortages. The lack of financial support has hindered the industry’s growth, despite the exceptional talents that could potentially sell out shows both locally and internationally.
However, he mentioned that the future of Ghanaian comedy remains uncertain due to a lack of funding and a lack of interest from stakeholders. Despite successful shows at the National Theater, comedians like OB Amponsah and Lekzy DC struggle to secure sponsorship for upcoming events. The sponsorship landscape seems to favor social media influencers with large followings, leaving comedians without the ‘bortoss attracting’ numbers at a disadvantage and urged Ghanaians to talk about them more.
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OB Amponsah’s post highlights the glaring disparity between Ghanaian comedians and their international counterparts. While comedians like Trevor Noah can sell out iconic venues like Madison Square Garden, Ghanaian comedians often go unnoticed on the global stage.
He ended by inviting Ghanaians who are comedy enthusiasts to make sure they support Ghanaian comedians by attending shows like Nana Bonsu’s “Caught in The Middle,” OB Amponsah’s “Jokes, Scrubs, and Sermons,” Lekzy DC’s “Can Pain Message,” and Ebenezer Dwomoh’s “ARCHITECT WITHOUT A PLAN,” which are fast approaching.
