NSMQ 2026: Accra Academy Seals Semi-Final Spot in Dramatic Finish Against University Practice SHS and Bishop Herman College!

Main Auditorium – September 1, 2026

A packed UCC Main Auditorium brought the final day of the Quarter-final Stage to a thrilling close as nine schools secured places in the Semi-final Stage of the 2026 National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ) National Championship.

The final contest featured University Practice SHS, Accra Academy and Bishop Herman College. Veteran Quiz Mistress Prof. Elsie Effah Kaufmann guided the intense contest with her trademark composure, precision and wit, keeping the audience on tenterhooks until the final riddle.

University Practice SHS took the early lead with 11 points in Round One, ahead of Accra Academy on eight and Bishop Herman College on six. University Practice maintained its lead in Round Two with 13 points, while Accra Academy had 10 and Bishop Herman seven.

The contest changed in Round Three, the Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day), as Accra Academy scored an impressive 6/10 to move to 16 points. University Practice and Bishop Herman failed to score in the round.

Accra Academy then mounted a strong comeback in Round Four, the Jupay Money Transfer True/False, levelling the scores with University Practice at 20 points heading into the final round.

The GOIL Super Bonanza ultimately decided the contest. University Practice SHS failed to score from its attempted riddles, while Accra Academy correctly answered the final riddle to secure a dramatic 23-point victory. University Practice finished on 20 points, while Bishop Herman College placed third with 17 points.

The victory sends Accra Academy to the Semi-final Stage and ends its Quarter-final deadlock since 2019. The school also won GH₵500 in the GOIL Super Bonanza for answering one riddle.

Speaking after the contest, Nana Yaw Adu, a Deputy Coordinator at Accra Academy, expressed confidence in the team ahead of the Semi-finals.

“We are very familiar with the two schools we are going to meet in the semi-finals. We are not worried at all. We know the work we have put in,” he said.

He expressed hope that Accra Academy would finally break its Semi-final jinx and make history by winning its first NSMQ trophy.

Round One General Questions (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology)

University Practice SHS                                        11

Accra Academy                                                      8

Bishop Herman College                                        8

Round Two Trustur AI Speed Race

University Practice SHS                                        13

Accra Academy                                                     10

Bishop Herman College                                        7

Round Three Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day)

Accra Academy                                                     16

University Practice SHS                                        13

Bishop Herman College                                        7

Round Four Jupay Money Transfer True/False

University Practice SHS                                        20

Accra Academy                                                     20

Bishop Herman College                                       14

Round Five Goil Super Bonanza

Accra Academy                                                     23

University Practice SHS                                        20

Bishop Herman College                                      14

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.