University of Ghana backs down on NDC advert

Authorities of the University of Ghana, Legon, say the university will not take the NDC to court over the party's TV advert that used the university campus as its background.

Authorities of the university, last Friday, issued a statement ordering the opposition NDC to withdraw the TV advert because it has the potential to drag the university into the fray of party politics.

The statement also indicated that the NDC did not seek approval from the university before shooting the ad.

In an earlier interview with JoyNews the NDC said they suspected government was the brain behind the university's decision.

The party also dared the university to take the matter to court.

But the Acting Director of Public Relations of the University of Ghana, Peter Y. Yarquah told Joy News in an interview that the university is not ready to make the issue a court case. “We will not pursue the matter but we expect the NDC to do what is proper”, he said.

Mr Yarquah indicated that the university is not there for anybody to use its facilities anyhow and that if any individual or group wants to organize a programme or shoot an advert on campus, it should seek the permission and approval from the university authorities.

“I also want to address the issue that the university is conniving and condoning with any agency to use its facilities as alleged by the NDC”, he added.

Mr Yarquah says the university is embarrassed by the ad because it has the potential to drag the university into the political fray.

The press secretary to Professor Atta Mills, Nii Lantey Vanderpuye said NDC will not withdraw the ad until the NPP withdraw their ads that feature capture property.