NSMQ 2026: Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS Breaks 10-Year Seed Drought with Dramatic Comeback!
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Main Auditorium - August 27, 2026 After ten years of waiting, Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS finally returned to the Quarter-final Stage of the National Science & Maths Quiz, completing a dramatic comeback against St. James Seminary SHS and Wesley High School, Bekwai.
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS last reached the Quarter-final Stage in 2016, having finished third at the 2013 Grand Finale. A return to the stage seemed unlikely for much of the contest, as St. James Seminary SHS held the advantage. But Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS stayed in contention and delivered when it mattered most, answering all four riddles in the GOIL Riddle Bonanza to complete a stunning comeback and end their ten-year wait.
St. James Seminary SHS started strongly in Round One, the General Questions round, taking the lead with 15 points. Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS followed closely with 13 points, while Wesley High School, Bekwai, recorded nine points.
The lead remained with St. James Seminary SHS in Round Two, the Trustur AI Speed Race, as the school moved to 18 points. Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS had 11 points, while Wesley High School, Bekwai, moved to six points.
St. James Seminary SHS maintained its position at the top in Round Three, the Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star, Problem of the Day, reaching 25 points after adding seven points. Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS moved to 17 points with six additional points, while Wesley High School, Bekwai, reached 10 points after adding four.
St. James Seminary SHS continued to lead in Round Four, the Jupay Money Transfer True/False round, reaching 29 points. Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS followed with 21 points, while Wesley High School, Bekwai, had 17 points.
The decisive moment came in Round Five, the GOIL Riddle Bonanza, when Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS produced a stunning late surge. Needing a strong finish to overturn the deficit, the team answered all four riddles correctly, securing the comeback and a place in the Quarter-final Stage.
The breakthrough triggered loud cheers and excitement across the Main Auditorium, as Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS steadily closed the gap and eventually moved ahead of St. James Seminary SHS. Their successful run in the round took their score to 33 points, while St. James Seminary SHS finished with 29 points. Wesley High School, Bekwai, ended the contest with17 points.
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS capped its comeback by answering all four riddles correctly in the GOIL Riddle Bonanza, earning GH¢1,600 and securing its place in the Quarter-final Stage.
Speaking after the contest, contestant Juanita Elikem Atidepe Agbesi admitted that qualification appeared unlikely by the end of the fourth round, with the school trailing St. James Seminary SHS.
“By the end of the fourth round, we had little hope that we would be able to go through, but we still had faith in God.”
She said closing the gap while under pressure was one of the team's biggest challenges, as the deficit created tension going into the final round. With their Quarter-final place secured, the team is now focused on addressing its weaknesses and preparing for the next stage.
“We are going to work on our problems and then, if it is the will of God, we will come out victorious there,” she said.
The Round-by-Round Scores for this contest stood as follows: ROUND ONE: General Questions
St. James Seminary SHS: 15 points
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS: 13 points
Wesley High School, Bekwai: 9 points
ROUND TWO: Trustur AI Speed Race
St. James Seminary SHS: 18 points
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS: 11 points
Wesley High School, Bekwai: 6 points
ROUND THREE: Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star, Problem of the Day
St. James Seminary SHS: 25 points (+7)
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS: 17 points (+6)
Wesley High School, Bekwai: 10 points (+4)
ROUND FOUR: Jupay Money Transfer True/False
St. James Seminary SHS: 29 points
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS: 21 points
Wesley High School, Bekwai: 17 points
ROUND FIVE: GOIL Riddle Bonanza
Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS: 33 points
St. James Seminary SHS: 29 points
Wesley High School, Bekwai: 17 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.
