NSMQ 2026: Presby SHTS, Mfantsiman Girls’, Kumasi Sec. Tech and Presby SHS Turn Up the Heat!

CNC Auditorium - August 22, 2026

Presby SHTS, Aburi, Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS, Kumasi Sec. Tech and Presby SHS, Adeiso emerged victorious from four fiercely contested battles on Day Three of the National Championship of the 2026 National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ), securing their places in the One-eighth Stage at the CNC Auditorium.

Mrs Rachel Annoh, Quiz Mistress, moderated the contests with elegance, confidence and academic depth, navigating the intense competition with accuracy, impartiality and calm authority throughout the day.

The four contests produced several standout performances and prize-winning moments. OLA SHS, Kumasi Sec. Tech and Presby SHS, Adeiso each won the GH₵800 GOIL Riddle Bonanza prize, while Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS and St. Mary’s SHS secured the GH₵500 Jupay Money Transfer Clean Sheet Award for flawless performances in the True/False Round.

Redemption for Presby SHTS, Aburi, as they cruise to One-eighth Stage

The day’s contests began with OLA SHS, Ho, one of the highest-scoring schools in the Regional Qualifiers with 73 points; Presby SHTS, Aburi, who reached the One-eighth Stage last year; and Our Lady of Lourdes Girls’ SHS, making a second appearance at the Preliminary Stage.

Presby SHTS, Aburi, took the early lead in Round One, the General Questions, scoring 23 points against OLA SHS, Ho’s 18 and Our Lady of Lourdes Girls’ SHS’s three points. Presby SHTS sharpened its advantage in Round Two, the Trustur AI Speed Race, moving to 32 points, while OLA SHS advanced to 20 points and Our Lady of Lourdes Girls’ SHS to six points.

The Round Three, Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star – Problem of the Day, proved challenging for all three schools, but the contest picked up pace again in Round Four, the Jupay Money Transfer True/False Round. Presby SHTS maintained its lead with 48 points, followed by OLA SHS with 32 and Our Lady of Lourdes Girls’ SHS with 13 points.

Presby SHTS, Aburi, had described its journey to the National Championship as “not easy” and hoped for another opportunity to progress further this year. That ambition became a reality as the school secured 51 points to book a place in the One-eighth Stage. OLA SHS, Ho, followed with 41 points, while Our Lady of Lourdes Girls’ SHS had 13 points.

OLA SHS, Ho, however, had something to celebrate in the GOIL Super Bonanza, answering three of the four riddles correctly to win the GH₵800 prize in the highly competitive final round.

Clean Sheet and 60 Points Power Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS to One-eighth Stage

The second contest of the day brought together schools from three regions: Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS from the Central Region, Kade SHTS from the Eastern Region, and Serwaa Kesse Girls’ SHS from the Ahafo Region.

Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS took the early lead in Round One, scoring 23 points, just two points ahead of Kade SHTS on 21. Serwaa Kesse Girls’ SHS had 12 points.

Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS maintained its advantage in Round Two, the Trustur AI Speed Race, moving to 33 points. Kade SHTS dropped to 18 points, while Serwaa Kesse Girls’ SHS dropped to 11.

Reflecting on their approach to the closely fought opening round, Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS contestant, Juanita Elikem Atidepe-Agbesi said the team remained composed and focused on answering questions they were confident about.

“When we realised that there was a close tie, we decided to take our time and made sure that we answer the ones you could answer effortlessly, even though there were little hitches,” she said in a post-quiz interview.

The Prudential Life Insurance NSMQ Star – Problem of the Day proved challenging for all three schools, but Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS found another gear in Round Four, the Jupay Money Transfer True/False Round. The school answered every question correctly to earn a perfect score, taking its tally to 57 points and securing the GH₵500 Jupay Clean Sheet Award. Kade SHTS and Serwaa Kesse Girls’ SHS both moved to 30 points.

Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS sealed a convincing victory in the Final Round, the GOIL Riddle Bonanza, adding three points to reach 60 points and book a place in the One-eighth Stage. Kade SHTS followed with 36 points, while Serwaa Kesse Girls’ SHS placed third with 32 points.

Juanita said the victory had also raised the team’s expectations ahead of the next stage.

“This win means we must work harder, so we don’t get out of the contest at the One-eighth Stage. We know that God is with us and if we’re ordained, nothing will stop us from qualifying,” she said.

KSTS beats St. Mary’s SHS, Agona SHTS to advance to One-eighth Stage

In the third contest, Kumasi Sec. Tech, set the early pace in Round One, leading with 26 points, ahead of St. Mary’s SHS on 19 and Agona SHTS on nine points. The Trustur AI Speed Race saw Kumasi Sec. Tech. and St. Mary’s maintain 26 and 19 points respectively, while Agona SHTS slipped to seven points.

Like the previous contests, the Round Three, Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day), posed a challenge to all three schools, but the momentum shifted in Round Four, Jupay Money Transfer True/False.

St. Mary’s SHS delivered a flawless round to win the Clean Sheet Award, with a prize of GH₵500, and climbed to 31 points. Kumasi Sec. Tech. still led the contest with 40 points, while Agona SHTS had 24 points.

The final round decided the contest! Kumasi Sec. Tech. stayed composed to finish on 49 points and claimed the GOIL Riddle Bonanza Award of GH₵800 and sealed qualification to the One-eighth Stage. St. Mary’s SHS ended with 34 points and Agona SHTS with 24 points.

 Presby SHS, Adeiso stages comeback to win final contest

The final contest of the day at the CNC Auditorium brought together Vakpo SHS, Presby SHS, Adeiso, and Wovenu SHTS in a tightly contested battle from round one through to round five.

Presby SHS, Adeiso led narrowly after Round One 25 points, just ahead of Vakpo SHS on 22 and Wovenu SHTS on 21. Presby SHS, Adeiso held their lead through the Trustur AI Speed Race, with 28 points, as Vakpo SHS increased their pints to 24 and Wovenu SHTS, 22 points.

In the Round Three, Prudential Life NSMQ Star (Problem of the Day), the contest flipped, as Vakpo SHS surged to 33 points to overtake both Presby SHS, Adeiso and Wovenu SHTS, who were tied on 31 points, respectively.

In an interesting turn of events, Vakpo SHS’s lead was short-lived, with Wovenu SHTS delivered a strong performance in Round Four, Jupay Money Transfer True/False, to take the lead with 44 points, followed by Presby SHS, Adeiso on 41 and Vakpo SHS on 37.

It was all to play for in the Final Round, and Presby SHS, Adeiso rose to the occasion. They answered three riddles correctly to finish on 50 points, clinching both the win and the GOIL Riddle Bonanza Award.

The win got Presby SHS, Adeiso GH₵800 in cash prize and secure the last slot for the One-eighth Stage on the day. Wovenu SHTS ended second with 44 points, while Vakpo SHS placed third with 37 points.

A Glance at the Scores for all the Four Contests

First Contest	Second Contest	Third Contest	Fourth Contest
Presby SHTS, Aburi – 51 points OLA SHS, Ho - 41 Our Lady of Lourdes Girls’ SHS - 13	Mfantsiman Girls’ SHS – 60 Kade SHTS - 36 Serwaa Kesse Girls’ SHS - 33	Kumasi Sec. Tech. – 49 points St. Mary’s SHS – 34 points Agona SHTS – 24 points	Presby SHS, Adeiso – 50 points Wovenu SHTS – 44 points Vakpo SHS – 37 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.