Ghanaian comedian and optometrist, OB Amponsah, has revealed that his entry into comedy was driven purely by passion and the joy of making people laugh, not financial gain.
Speaking in an interview with fellow comedian Lekzy DeComic on Joy Prime on Wednesday December 17, OB reflected on his early days in comedy and how the industry has evolved over time.
Lekzy noted that when he entered comedy, the focus was more on proving one’s talent, with money hardly part of the conversation.
He then asked OB whether money was his initial motivation or if he believed comedy would eventually pay off.
In response, OB Amponsah said his decision to pursue comedy was rooted in passion.
He recounted his first performance at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), which was organised with the support of friends including Nimo, Nibote, Richie, Mensa, Atenga, members of NUGS UCC, and Adventist students on campus.
According to him, the show, held on the UCC campus, was not about earning money but about testing how far his talent could take him.
“It wasn’t about money. It was about seeing how far I could go with this talent,” he said.
OB explained that after that first show, he discovered the deep satisfaction he got from making people laugh.
He described the joy of being on stage, holding the microphone, and seeing the audience respond to his jokes as something money alone could not replace.
“The moment I’m on stage and I see people laughing, it gives me so much joy that even money cannot replace it,” he shared.
He added that while money has since become part of the journey, it only complements the happiness he already derives from comedy.
“When this joy and money come together, it just becomes like food,” OB Amponsah concluded.
The interview offered insight into the evolving comedy industry in Ghana and highlighted the importance of passion and purpose in sustaining a career in entertainment.
