Ghanaian comedian and actor Jeneral Ntatia has opened up about the growing challenges within the country’s comedy industry, citing high production costs, lack of corporate sponsorship, and heavy taxation as major setbacks.
Speaking on TV3’s The Afternoon Show with Anita Akuffo on Tuesday, April 28, 2026, Ntatia painted a stark picture of the financial burden event organisers face when putting together comedy shows.
According to him, organising events has become increasingly difficult, with expenses such as venue rental and citywide billboard promotions often falling solely on the shoulders of organisers.
“The problem we are facing is getting sponsorship from corporates, and also taxation,” he said. “You put up a show, then you have to put up billboards across the city, rent auditoriums — no support from anywhere. And when you’re finished, you have to be taxed. It’s not easy.”
He added that low patronage sometimes forces organisers to give out free tickets just to fill venues and maintain the atmosphere of a successful event.
“Sometimes, you even have to share tickets when you realise that the show is not going to go well. I believe that instead of having an empty auditorium, it’s better to fill the place so people can enjoy,” he explained.
Despite this, Ntatia revealed that he has recently decided to stop the practice of distributing free tickets, opting instead to take the financial risk. However, he noted that the outcome is not always favourable.
“I decided I’m not giving out tickets again. I’m going to go all out, and then you finish your show, and it has not really gone well. You still have to pay people for their services, and then there is taxation. It is very painful,” he said.
He used the opportunity to call on the government to introduce supportive measures for creatives, particularly those in the comedy sector.
“That’s what we’ve been crying to the government to consider — to put down things to help us,” he appealed.
Ntatia’s remarks add to growing concerns among industry players about the sustainability of Ghana’s entertainment sector, as calls intensify for policy reforms, tax reliefs, and stronger corporate backing to support creative professionals.
By Abigail Inkoom
