NSMQ 2026: Accra Academy Beats Achimota School and Bright SHS to Secure First-Ever Grand Finale Spot, Sweep GH¢8,800 in Awards!
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Main Auditorium – September3, 2026
The final contest of the Semi-final Stage featured Accra Academy, Bright SHS and Achimota School. The contest had its share of thrills, surprises, upsets and history-making moments. For Accra Academy, it was a chance to make history by securing their first-ever place at the Grand Finale of the 2026 National Championship.
Veteran NSMQ Quiz Mistress Prof. Kaufmann brought her characteristic grace to the stage, engaging contestants with cheerfulness and warm encouragement to calm nerves and inspire confidence before the climax of the semi-finals competition of the day.
The competition began on an evenly poised note in Round One of General Questions, where Accra Academy and Achimota School both finished with 16 points, while Bright SHS followed the two schools with eight points.
Momentum shifted decisively in Round Two, Trustur AI Speed Race, where Accra Academy showcased superior speed and accuracy, stretching their lead to 28 points. Achimota School came second with 17 points, with Bright SHS close behind on 15 points.
The Round Three, Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day), saw contestants demonstrate extreme brilliance to the admiration of all, including the Quiz Mistress, who described the round as the moment she has been waiting for. At the end of the round, contestants of all the three schools in a rare display of excellence, scored a perfect 10/10, earning each school the coveted Prudential Life NSMQ Star prize of GH₵3,400.
Following the perfect scores, Accra Academy increased the tally to 38 points, still leading the contest, Achimota School scored 27 points, while Bright SHS earned 25 points, setting up a fiercely final half of the competition.
The Jupay Money Transfer True/False round brought drama and a major turnaround. Accra Academy extended their dominance to 51 points, but Bright SHS mounted an impressive comeback, overtaking Achimota to reach 41 points against Achimota’s 37. Bright SHS’s resilience in the fourth round earned them special recognition, as they clinched the Jupay Money Transfer Clean Sheet Award valued at GH₵1,500 for their flawless performance in that round.
The final round was tense – Achimota School got two riddles correct, but that was not enough to change the results, as both Bright SHS and Accra Academy equally got one riddle each. Accra Academy sealed the fate of the contest, maintaining their composure to finish with 54 points, while Bright SHS held on to second place with 44 points, narrowly edging Achimota School who ended with 43 points.
Achimota School won GH₵1,200 GOIL Super Bonanza Award for their getting two riddles correct, while both Accra Academy and Bright SHS received GH₵600 each, for the GOIL Super Bonanza Award. For Bright SHS, despite missing out on the finale, their spirited comeback and two award wins will be a source of immense pride, having pushed two of Ghana’s traditional powerhouses to the limit.
In an interview with the NSMQ Communications Team after the contest, Bright SHS Coordinator, Mr. Franklin Ebo Odum, said reaching the semi-finals for the first time after three attempts meant a lot to the school and students, especially the contestants.
He said their success was achieved through extensive, disciplined training and divine mercy, expressing deep gratitude for the opportunity to represent the school on the national stage and inspire future students.
Mercy Adjeley Okang, a joyful contestant of Bright SHS noted that the NSMQ has positively impacted her academic life by exposing her beyond their curriculum, to boosting her confidence and teamwork.
On the school’s prospect in the contest next year, she said: “we will be winning next. We are coming with more vigour, and we will put everything together. We will come and do better next year.”
Nana Yaw Adu, a Deputy Coordinator with Accra Academy, attributed the school’s NSMQ grand-finale qualification to the grace of God and relentless hard work, noting that despite criticism and low scores in past contests, the team persevered to win.
He said the was determined to win its maiden NSMQ trophy as underdogs, trusting in God to deliver victory in time for their 95th anniversary celebration, and expressed special gratitude to everyone for the support and sacrifices.
Accra Academy will meet two-time champions St. Augustine’s College, and eight-time champions, Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC, Legon), to battle for the ultimate title of 2026 NSMQ Champions.
The highly anticipated Grand-Finale of the 2026 NSMQ would be held at the UG Premier Domes, University of Ghana, Accra, on Thursday, September 10, 2026, where a new titleholder would emerge.
The Round-by-Round Scores for this contest stood as follows:
Round One General Questions (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology)
Accra Academy 16
Achimota School 16
Bright SHS 8
Round Two (Trustur AI Speed Race)
Accra Academy 28
Achimota School 17
Bright SHS 15
Round Three Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day)
Accra Academy 38
Achimota School 27
Bright SHS 25
Round Four (Jupay Money Transfer True/False)
Accra Academy 51
Bright SHS 41
Achimota School 37
Round Five (GOIL Super Bonanza)
Accra Academy 54
Bright SHS 44
Achimota School 43
The 2026 edition of the National Science & Maths Quiz is produced by Primetime Limited and proudly sponsored by the Ghana Education Service (GES), with support from GOIL PLC, Joy News, Prudential Life Insurance Ghana, Pepsodent, Cowbell, Trustur AI, Jupay Money Transfer, Lumevax, GTP, SpinCiti Laundromat, Didi Jollof, Bel Beverages, Accra College of Medicine, Coronation Insurance Ghana, Academic City University, Baldwin University College and YFM.
