Although a joke he told about former president John Mahama attracted heavy backlash and threats resulting in trauma, OB Amponsah has said he has learnt his lessons but cannot promise his craft will be redacted henceforth.
I cannot promise. What I can promise is that I will tread cautiously,” he told GhanaWeb. “I cannot promise I’ll censor my art. Art that is censored becomes less of an art so I’ll just tread cautiously. Now, I’m a scapegoat for other comedians. Other comedians will now learn from my predicament and know how to tell these jokes.”
The popular comedian during a performance at this year’s edition of Decemba2Rememba made light of many things, including names and meanings as well as the impact of names on people where he mentioned that the name ‘Mahama’ is synonymous with corruption in Hausa.
Despite stating on the platform that it was just a joke he told, some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress faulted him, unleashed insults while others threatened to deal with him.
He admitted in his interview with GhanaWeb that after a sober reflection, he realized the joke was sensitive although the NDC flag-bearer, like the audience in the auditorium, would see the humor in his presentation.
“I think he [Mahama] will take it as a joke. He is a communicator. He will understand what I really meant,” he said.
It is politics that binds us as Ghanaians. Until we remove the veil of politics, we wouldn’t acknowledge art, especially comedy. People don’t joke with politics. Once you tackle something that is close to somebody’s political affiliation, they’re obligated to react to it.
“Ghanaians are a bit skeptical when it comes to politics, religion… Some NDC folks understood it as a joke but others realized that Ghanaians are a bit gullible so even if I meant it as a joke, they may take it as the raw meaning and that’s why I believe some of them took it that strongly,” OB Amponsah added.
