Mahama will take my 'corruption' joke as a jest - OB Amponsah

Comedian OB Amponsah has refuted claims his joke about John Dramani Mahama was a calculated attempt to render him unpopular ahead of the 2020 elections, stressing that the former president being a communicator would see the humor in his presentation.

“I think he will take it as a joke. He is a communicator. He will understand what I really meant,” OB told GhanaWeb.

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.

He cracked ribs with that script but fell on the dagger of some members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). They described the joke as sensitive and expensive; hurled insults at him while others incited violence against him for injuring the reputation of the party’s flag-bearer.

The comedian in an interview with GhanaWeb, however, indicated that smearing the reputation of Mr. Mahama with mud is the last thing on his mind.

“Sincerely, that wasn’t the intention. It was a joke that treaded on a thin line. It was not to make him unpopular,” he said. “I’m not a politician; I don’t even vote. It was a sensitive joke I told. It went down with the audience at the auditorium but later after a bit of assessment, people realized it was quite too far, it was quite an affront to the former president’s dignity. No malice intended…”

Though OB Amponsah disclosed he was nailed by the attacks to the extent of shedding tears, he would not say that members of the NDC who insulted him were too hard on him. He explained that the love for the party influenced their reaction.

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.”