By Alex Ababio
SKOA Comedy recently hosted a free comedy show in Kumasi, aiming to rejuvenate stand-up comedy and concert party culture in Ghana.
The event featured some of Ghana’s most popular comedians, including Pencil, Sokoo, Action Lady, and Oboy Loku, among others.
In an interview with the Ghanaian Watch Andrews Mensah, the Chief Executive of SKOA Comedy and a stand-up comedian himself, expressed concern over the decline of the comedy industry in Ghana. Mensah, a German citizen born to Ghanaian parents, explained, “I felt compelled to return to Ghana and collaborate with local comedians to bring comedy back to life.” He further noted that growing up, he was inspired by Ghanaian comedians and developed a passion for comedy. “I’ve realized that the comedy industry holds immense economic potential, including job creation for Ghanaian youth both locally and internationally,” he emphasized. “Comedy helps people discover their identity, culture, values, and talents, which can significantly enhance their well-being.”
“Stand-up comedy is a conversation that resonates with the audience about real-life situations,” he continued. “It educates them to make the right decisions in their everyday lives, helping them avoid unnecessary mistakes and live better lives. Comedy has been a source of motivation that changes people’s lives for the better. That’s how I changed my life—by watching, listening, and applying the life lessons I learned from stand-up comedy.”
Mensah urged Ghanaians, particularly the youth, to embrace stand-up comedy instead of spending excessive time on social media. “Social media addiction can consume your valuable time and money,” he warned.
He also revealed his plans to merge Ghanaian and German cultures through comedy shows that would highlight both traditions. “I aim to teach the youth in Ghana to identify their true sense of identity and self-awareness to contribute positively to society,” he stated. “I am also embarking on a European comedy tour to showcase Ghanaian culture abroad, putting Ghana on the global map in terms of comedy and culture.”
Sokoo, the coordinator of SKOA Comedy, encouraged Ghanaians to prioritize socialization by attending events like comedy shows. “It’s an opportunity to make friends, build networks, and create new business opportunities,” he advised. “Let’s not focus only on our phones at the expense of real communication with friends and family.”
Madam Julice Boateng Pentil, popularly known as Action Lady and a leading member of SKOA Comedy, appealed to Kumasi residents to support comedy shows to learn from real-life experiences. “Comedy helps develop emotional intelligence, especially in handling relationships in business and marriage,” she said.
She continued, “The title of our comedy show is ‘Be Vigilant.’ There are many things happening in today’s world, with both good and bad people around us. We need to know how to deal with them. That’s why we want to educate Ghanaians, especially the youth, through our series of drama and comedy shows.”
Action Lady concluded by announcing plans to organize comedy shows every two weeks. “We want to entertain and educate our audience, so I encourage everyone to attend with enthusiasm,” she stressed.