OB Amponsah laments GRA taxes at events
Popular Ghanaian comedian OB Amponsah has raised concerns over what he describes as unfair tax demands by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) following his Greetings From Abroad comedy show held in December 2025.
In a Facebook post that has since generated widespread discussion, the comedian shared an official GRA notification of tax liability addressed to Africa Arts Network, organisers of the event staged at the Bukom Boxing Arena on December 20, 2025.
According to the document, the GRA assessed the organisers to pay a total of GH¢27,648.97 in taxes, comprising Value Added Tax (VAT) of GH¢20,073.91, NHIL of GH¢4,418.79, and GETFund levy of GH¢3,156.28, based on ticket sales recorded by officers stationed at the venue.
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However, OB Amponsah insists the figures do not reflect the financial reality of the event, revealing that the show recorded a loss of about GH¢5,000 despite the gate numbers observed by tax officials.
“For Ghanaian comedians, we may not be signed to a record label to experience any brouhaha like Kwesi Arthur, but this is what we have to deal with after every event in Ghana,” he wrote, questioning how taxes could be demanded from an event that made no profit.
The comedian further explained that complimentary tickets, high production costs, and industry-building sacrifices significantly affect revenue, arguing that the optics at the gate do not necessarily translate into profit on paper.
He called on the GRA to engage event organisers more closely by reviewing their books rather than relying solely on ticket counts, stating that a deeper audit would reveal the financial strain faced by creatives.
Describing the situation as a “loud cry for help from a growing industry,” OB Amponsah appealed directly to GRA officials, including Chief Revenue Officer Mariama Ewuntoma, to reconsider how taxes are assessed for live entertainment events.
PAH/MA
