NSMQ 2026: Accra High School Fights Back to Secure One-eighth Stage with Nsutaman Catholic SHS and Presby SHS, Suhum

CNC Auditorium - August 23, 2026

Contestants, coordinators and supporters from three schools, defied Sunday morning’s rain to compete at the CNC Auditorium, in the first contest of Day Four of the Preliminary Stage of the National Championship of the 2026 National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ).

The contest was between Nsutaman Catholic SHS, Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS, and Hope College. Other contests for the day was between Navrongo SHS, Presby SHS, Suhum. Bepong SHS, Ghana SHS, Tamale, Accra High School, and Sunyani SHS, ended the day.

All three contests were expertly moderated by Quiz Mistress Mrs. Rachel Annoh, who steered proceedings with remarkable clarity, admirable balance, and unwavering firmness, ensuring smooth, fair, and engaging encounters from start to finish throughout today.

Winners at end of contests for Day Four of the Preliminary Stage of the National Championship of the 2026 NSMQ were: Accra High School, Nsutaman Catholic SHS and Presby SHS, Suhum.

Hope College took home GH₵2,000 for winning the Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day) despite missing out on the One-eighth Stage. Nsutaman Catholic SHS also won a cash prize of GH₵800 for winning the GOIL Riddle Bonanza Award.

In addition, Presby SHS, Suhum received the prestigious Pepsodent Highest Scorer Award worth GH₵1,000 for recording the highest score of 55 points across all three keenly contested competitions held on the day at the CNC Auditorium.

Hope College wins Prudential Life NSMQ Star Prize, but Nsutaman Catholic SHS gets One-eighth Stage Slot

Despite missing out on the One-eighth Stage, Hope College clinched the Prudential Life NSMQ Star Prize, by getting the Problem of the Day correct, becoming the only school to win an award in their contest.

Their contest, the first of Day Four, saw Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS took an early lead in Round One, with 20 points, ahead of Hope College, 17 points and Nsutaman Catholic SHS, 16 points.

However, Nsutaman Catholic SHS put up an impressive performance, turning the contest around with 29 points in the Round Two, Trustur AI Speed Race. Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ increased their points to 21, while Hope College dropped to 15 points.

Hope College finished third in Round Three with 25 points but won the Prudential Life NSMQ Star prize of GH₵2,000, while Nsutaman led with 37 and Serwaa Nyarko Girls had 27, before Round Four tightened race to 41, 38 and 37 points, respectively.

Nsutaman Catholic SHS answered three out of the four riddles to finish with 50 points and secure qualification to the One-eighth Stage. They also won the GOIL Riddle Bonanza of GH₵800 Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS placed second with 41 points, while Hope College ended third with 37 points.

Elvis Atta Sekyere Junior, a contestant of Nsutaman Catholic SHS, explained to the NSMQ Communications team that they had some of the analysis “one-way,” making them miss some questions in the True/False round as the gap was closed by both competing schools.

“Before the last round before the last round my partner was somehow depressed. So, I told her that although it’s left with only one round, it’s not left with only one point. So, we should keep it up because we’ve done it in times past, so we can also do it today,” he said.

Presby SHS, Suhum cruises to One-eighth Stage in Second Contest

Presby SHS, Suhum stamped their authority on the contest from the outset of the second contest of Day Four at the CNC Auditorium, amassing 24 points in Round One. Their competitors, Navrongo SHS and Bepong SHS and nine and seven points respectively.

Presby SHS, Suhum extended dominance in Trustur AI Speed Race, soaring to 34 points as Navrongo SHS moved to 10 and Bepong SHS dropped to five, before pulling away to 42 in the Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day). Navrongo SHS improved to 18 points, while Bepong SHS managed seven points.

In the Jupay Money Transfer True/False round, Presby SHS, Suhum maintained their commanding lead heading into the final round with 55 points. Navrongo SHS followed with 31 points and Bepong SHS, 11 points.

Presby SHS, Suhum sealed their qualification in the One-eighth Stage in style with 55 points at the GOIL Riddle Bonanza and final round. Navrongo SHS finished second with 31 points, while Bepong SHS placed third with 14 points.

Accra High School Stages Late Comeback with One-Point Difference to Reach One-eighth Stage

Accra High School staged a late comeback with a single point at the end of the five rounds, despite leading in the first round with a five-point difference. Mrs. Rachel Annoh, Quiz Mistress, engaged all contestants on stage, calming their nerves and creating a relaxed atmosphere for the fierce showdown.

Round one saw Accra High take an early lead with 23 points, while Ghana SHS, Tamale and Sunyani SHS tied at 18 points each. The Trustur AI Speed Race turned the tables as Sunyani SHS surged to 22 points, overtaking Accra High and Ghana SHS, Tamale who both slipped to 19 points.

Sunyani SHS maintained momentum in the Round Four, Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day), leading with 24 points ahead of Ghana SHS, Tamale with 22 points and Accra High School, 20 points.

The Jupay Money Transfer True/False round intensified the race, with all three schools separated by just two points - Sunyani SHS at 31, Accra High School, who had 30 points and Ghana SHS, Tamale, 29 points, leaving every one in the conference room on tenterhooks.

However, Accra High School staged a remarkable comeback in the GOIL Riddle Bonanza round to clinch the contest with 33 points, edging past Ghana SHS, Tamale who finished with 32 points, while Sunyani SHS, led for two rounds, ended with 31 points in a dramatic finish.

“We won by arithmetic sequence with the common difference being one - 33 points. It was a serious contest. In fact, I’m still shaking... but we thank God for this win, and we hope for more in the One-eighth Stage,” Bernard Adjetey Adjei, an Accra High School student said.

A Glance at the Scores for all the Four Contests

First Contest	Second Contest	Third Contest
Nsutaman Catholic SHS – 50 points Serwaa Nyarko Girls’ SHS – 41 points Hope College – 37 points	Presby SHS, Suhum – 55 points Navrongo SHS – 31 points Bepong SHS – 14 points	Accra High School – 33 points Ghana SHS, Tamale – 32 points Sunyani SHS – 31 points

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 and YFM.