Primetime Limited, organisers of the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), has announced the postponement of the third quarter-final contest of the 2025 edition following what it described as an “uncontrollable crowd” incident at the University of Cape Coast.
The contest, which was scheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2025, was to feature Prempeh College, Adisadel College, and Mfantsipim School.
However, it had to be called off after a large number of supporters forced their way into the venue, disrupting proceedings.
According to a statement issued by Primetime Limited on Friday, October 31, “The postponement became necessary, following a disruption caused by an uncontrollable crowd that forced its way into the auditorium, despite several measures we had put in place to manage the numbers.”
The organisers explained that the decision to use the School of Graduate Studies Auditorium was based on its suitability for the production setup and its availability. “We acknowledge that there are larger auditoriums on campus; however, factors such as availability, accessibility, and suitability for our stage setup informed our choice of venue.”
To manage attendance, each of the three schools was allocated 50 supporter slots, with extra arrangements made for those unable to enter the hall.
“We provided three outdoor screens, with chairs and canopies for comfort. Two seminar rooms were also set up to stream the contest live. In addition, we arranged for police and campus security to maintain order,” Primetime stated.
Despite these efforts, the organisers said the desire of many supporters to be inside the recording hall led to a breach of control.
“Calling off the contest was the safest decision, under the circumstances, as we wished to prevent possible clashes among supporters, especially after the contest and under the cover of darkness,” they explained.
Primetime Limited has apologised to all affected parties.
“We sincerely apologise to the participating schools, fans and all our stakeholders who were disappointed by the turn of events. Any inconvenience to you is deeply regretted,” the statement read.
The management also reaffirmed its commitment to safety, saying, “Primetime places a premium on ensuring the protection of life and property at all times, and we shall continue to do all we can to provide a safe environment for all who participate in our competitions.”
Read the full statement below
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