It was a tough battle. All three finalists were hungry for a win. Mfantsipim School, to win it for the third time and get to keep the trophy, Opoku Ware with the same quest and Adisadel College, to get the trophy for the first time.
Having been to the finals two consecutive times, 2015 and 2016, Adisadel College, was not ready to let go thus, fought fiercely to emerge winners of the 2016 edition of the National Science & Maths Quiz.
It was a keen contest as all the three contesting schools progressed though the rounds boot for boot.
At the end of Round One (1), Adisadel College was in the lead with 19 points followed closely by Mfantsipim School with 18 points with Opoku Ware School coming third with 14 points.
Adisadel College maintained their lead at the end of Round Two (2), again, with a one-point margin. Between Mfantsipim School and Opoku Ware School, was also a one-point margin.
The final round became the decider of the contest as all three schools had a chance of getting the highest score.
Adisadel College picked two of the riddles adding six points to their already accrued points of 38, making it 44 points. Opoku Ware School picked the third riddle to get 38 points.
All the three schools, however, missed the final riddle leaving Adisadel College in the lead with 44 points and Opoku Ware School in the second position with 38 points. Mfantsipim School came third with 37 points.
The winning team, Adisadel College, got a cash prize of GHS 40,000 for the School, GHS 15,000 for the contestants and GHS 15,000 for the team of teachers who trained them.
For the second position, Opoku Ware School got a cash prize of GHS 30,000 for the school, GHS 10,000 for the contestants and GHS 10,000 for the team of teachers who trained them. This prize package was sponsored by GCB Bank Ltd.
Mfantsipim School, for coming third, got a cash price of GHS 20,000 for the school, GHS 5,000 for the contestants and GHS 5,000 for the team of teachers who trained them.
In addition to these prizes, all the finalists will spend two weeks at Ashesi University for the Ashesi Innovation Experience in August where they will be trained in leadership, robotics, engineering, and entrepreneurship among others.
All the schools that lost at the semifinals each got a cash prize of GHS 5,000 for the School, GHS 2,500 for the students and GHS 2,500 for the team of teachers who trained them.
In addition, all the nine semifinalists together with the finalists, will get a one-acre school farm sponsored by RMG Ghana Ltd, an agro input company.
The Most Outstanding Female Contestant Award went to Salma Sumaila of Ghana National College whereas the Most Outstanding Male Contestant Award went to Isaac K. Mensah Amfoh of Adisadel College.
Each of them got a reward of $600 sponsored by Inspired Leaders’ Movement (ILM), a non-governmental organization with an interest in raising youth leaders.
Bubune Adih, a member of Mfantsipim School’s 1999 NSMQ winning team, who instituted the Prof. Marian Ewurama Addy Prize for the Most Outstanding Team in 2015, presented a cash prize of GHS 2,000 to the Adisadel College contestants.
The National Science & Maths Quiz is produced by communications agency, Primetime and sponsored mainly by the Conference of Heads of Assisted Secondary Schools (CHASS), with RMG Ghana Ltd as a platinum sponsor. Other sponsors are GCB Bank Ltd, Aduanehene (locally produced rice by Wienco), Ashesi University College, GTP, Dunken Beads, Prismab Beads and Shitopak, with Citi FM, Radio Univers, Stimuluz and Pulse.com.gh being media partners.
