Government not fair to event organisers – DKB

Stand-up comedian, Derrick Kobina Bonney, known in showbiz circles as DKB, has decried charges event organisers pay to secure government venues to hold their shows.

According to DKB, event organisers go through hard times in putting up shows only to be slapped with outrageous venue charges and taxation issues.

DKB also mentioned that organisers go through all forms of intimidations in the hands of some of the handlers of the facilities.

“It’s very difficult to get venues and these venues belong to the government. They charge extremely high. You ask, ‘what is wrong with my government. I’m doing this for the people of the country, you say you are for the people so why charge this exorbitant fee?’ Aside this, all sorts of maltreatments are meted out to you. The managers of the facilities intimidate us. They threaten to put off the lights and all that,” he said on Vibez in 5.

“Also, the taxation is too much for an event organiser. You organise event, print tickets, pay performers, venue, etc. and in all these, you have the government chasing you for the little you are getting from the gate. Sometimes, the IRS [Internal Revenue Service] feels like once the show is on air, it’s automatically huge. It is so hard to sell tickets. You will see the auditorium full to capacity but only 300 bought tickets. And if you are taking 17.5% of the money, do you think I will be encouraged to organise shows?” he queried.

DKB who broke into the comedy industry with his captivating performance at the Nite of 1018 Laughs and Music has subsequently gained grounds in the Ghanaian comedy industry.