Organisers of the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ), Primetime Limited, have announced the postponement of the third quarter-final contest in Cape Coast due to a chaotic crowd surge that disrupted proceedings and raised serious safety concerns.
The contest, scheduled for Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the University of Cape Coast’s School of Graduate Studies Auditorium, was to feature Prempeh College, Adisadel College, and Mfantsipim School.
However, a massive crowd of supporters forced their way into the auditorium, overwhelming security and halting the event.
In an official statement, Primetime explained that despite extensive planning and crowd-control measures, the situation became uncontrollable, prompting the decision to call off the contest.
“Calling off the contest was the safest decision, as we wished to prevent possible clashes among supporters, especially after the contest and under the cover of darkness,” the organisers said.
Primetime noted that larger venues were available on campus, but factors such as accessibility, suitability for the NSMQ stage setup, and logistics influenced the choice of the Graduate Studies Auditorium. Each school was allocated 50 supporter slots, and additional arrangements included three outdoor viewing screens, two seminar rooms for live streaming, and security personnel.
“Unfortunately, the desire of many to be inside the recording hall led to the breach and long delay in starting the contest,” the statement added.
The organisers apologised to participating schools, fans, and stakeholders for the inconvenience and assured that the contest would be rescheduled.
“Primetime places a premium on ensuring the protection of life and property and will continue to do all we can to provide a safe environment for all who participate in our competitions,” the statement concluded.
