Ghanaian comedian OB Amponsah has publicly responded to a recent tax assessment from the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) that he says is unfair to event organizers and entertainers. The comedian expressed concern after receiving the tax notice, arguing that it does not reflect the financial realities of his show and could harm creatives in the industry.
According to the notice, the GRA assessed a tax liability of GH₵27,648.97 for the “Greetings from Abroad” comedy show, which was held on December 20, 2025 at the Bukom Boxing Arena. The breakdown of the assessment included charges for value added tax (VAT), national health insurance levy (NHIL), and the GETFund levy.
OB Amponsah stated that the event actually recorded a loss of about GH₵5,000, a fact he believes was overlooked in calculating the tax bill. He questioned how the authority arrived at the figures, especially since some tickets were given out for free to build audience interest and support. The comedian said this practice, common in the creative industry, should be taken into account in tax assessments.
While acknowledging that the GRA has a mandate to collect taxes, OB Amponsah asked for fairness and for more dialogue between the revenue authority and event organizers. He appealed to the GRA to consider the unique financial challenges facing creatives, particularly independent entertainers who do not always make profits despite investing heavily in their shows.
His comments highlight a wider debate in Ghana about how taxes are applied to the creative industry. Critics argue that taxation rules must better reflect how events actually operate, so that performers and producers are not discouraged by heavy tax burdens that ignore actual earnings.
