Ghanaian comedian OB Amponsah has pushed back on the common comparison between Ghana’s entertainment industry and Nigeria’s, stating that Nigerian comedians are not competitors for their Ghanaian counterparts. Speaking on Joy Prime’s Changes show, Amponsah emphasized that Africa is a vast continent with many countries, and Ghanaian entertainers should explore beyond Nigeria, considering the broader African market.
He highlighted the shared cultural aspects across Africa and suggested that limiting the focus to Nigeria alone is short-sighted. “The space is big, and Africa is huge. When you travel outside Ghana, you realize there’s a lot of common stuff we share as Africans,” Amponsah said, pointing out that even between Ghana and Nigeria, there are other markets like Togo.
Amponsah also noted that many Ghanaian comedians, including himself, have already performed in various international venues, just like their Nigerian counterparts. He cited performances in countries like Rwanda, Zambia, and South Africa, mentioning that other Ghanaian comedians, such as Oh Joo and Ebenezer Dwomoh, have performed in Kenya, while Jacinta made it to the Apollo in the UK.
He argued that while Nigerian entertainers often perform alongside Ghanaians on international stages, Ghanaian comedians have made significant strides in establishing stand-up comedy within Ghana, which allows them to shine on home turf. According to Amponsah, the focus should not be solely on competing with Nigerians but on expanding Ghana’s entertainment reach to other global markets.
He concluded that Ghanaian entertainers have developed a strategy of connecting with international comedians across various countries, moving beyond Nigeria to penetrate the global entertainment market.
