Ease Our Taxes – Lekzy Decomic Appeals to GRA

Four-time Ghana Comedy Awards Stand-Up Comedian of the Year winner Lekzy Decomic has called on the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) to reconsider the tax regime applied to comedy shows, arguing that the 21 per cent tax charged on ticket sales is too high for Ghana’s developing comedy industry.

In an interview with Graphic Showbiz, the comedian, born Emmanuel Lekzy, said comedy should not be taxed in the same manner as more established industries because promoters and performers are still investing heavily to build the sector.

According to him, comedians and event organisers are willing to meet their tax obligations, but the current rate places an unnecessary financial burden on an industry that is still trying to establish itself.

“We are not saying we will not pay taxes because we understand it is our responsibility, but the percentage charged on ticket sales is quite outrageous.”

Lekzy believes a reduction or review of the tax burden would encourage more people to organise comedy events, attract more investment and, in the long run, increase government revenue as the industry expands.

He also urged authorities to recognise the role comedians can play in promoting Ghana internationally. He suggested that comedians and other creatives should be included in presidential trips abroad to help showcase Ghanaian culture, tourism and stories.

Drawing on Ghana’s history, Lekzy noted that Dr Kwame Nkrumah was known to involve creatives in international engagements and argued that comedians are particularly effective cultural ambassadors because of their ability to tell stories in an entertaining and relatable manner.

“Nobody can propagate the culture of any country better than comedians,” he said, adding that comedians could help promote Ghana’s tourism narrative and positively present the country’s story.

Reflecting on his own career, Lekzy said comedy has opened doors for him that his academic background in graphic design might not have provided.

He explained that his success in comedy has given him access to opportunities, influential people and spaces he may not have encountered had he remained solely in his original profession.

On whether comedians today have an easier path to success compared with previous generations, Lekzy said the demands of the profession remain largely unchanged despite the influence of social media.

He noted that comedians still have to build their careers through live performances, although social media has made it easier for them to reach audiences in Ghana and abroad.

While he could not speak extensively about the earnings of comedians in the 1980s and 1990s, Lekzy acknowledged that there has been some improvement in the industry over the years.

Source:Graphic Online