The National Science & Maths Quiz, Ghana’s most celebrated and anticipated annual event came to a climax on 8th October, 2020 at Cedi Conference Centre, University of Ghana, Legon. The longest-running independent program on Ghanaian television was broadcast live on Multimedia Group’s JoyNews and live streamed on all NSMQ social media platforms. The event was well attended by dignitaries and stakeholders of Ghana’s education sector.
This year’s Grand Finale featured a truly intense contest between Adisadel College, Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School and Opoku Ware School. In 2019, the three schools locked horns at the Semifinal Stage with Presbyterian Boys Sec. School kicking out their contenders. The story was no different this year as Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (1995, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009 & 2020 Champions) made history once again to maintain their ranking as the highest winning team in NSMQ history.
Round One, proved to be a huge hurdle for all the contestants, as they got most of their main questions and bonuses wrong. Presbyterian Boys’ Sec. School had 14 points, Opoku Ware School and Adisadel College with nine and seven points respectively.
The heat of the Grand Finale was felt by all when the contestants were either silent or gave wrong answers in Round Two’s Speed Race. Adisadel College finally broke the cycle of wrong answers and Presbyterian Boys’ Sec. Sch. followed suit by solving a Math question under 10 seconds.
None of the contestants had a perfect score of 10 points in Round Three’s Problem of the Day, relinquishing their shot at winning the Prudential Life NSMQ Star, worth GH₵4000.00 at the Final Stage of the competition.
With 36 points at the end of the contest, Presbyterian Boys’ Sec. School won their 6th NSMQ trophy maintaining their rank as the highest winning team in NSMQ history. They also won the AirtelTigo Highest Scorer of the Day award, worth GH₵10,000.00 at the Final Stage of the competition. Presbyterian Boys’ Sec School’s Daniel Kekeli Gakpetor won the Academic City Presidential Scholarship, worth $40,000.
The first runners-up Adisadel College ended the contest with 31 points and second runners-up; Opoku Ware School had 21 points. During the closing ceremony all finalist were presented with their medals and cash prizes.
The Quiz was moderated by Dr. Elsie Effah Kaufmann, Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Ghana, Legon.
Here’s a breakdown of the NSMQ2020 Grand Finale.
Round One – General questions on chemistry, physics, biology and mathematics
Presbyterian Boys’ Sec. Sch: 14
Opoku Ware School: 9
Adisadel College: 7
Round Two – The Speed race
Presbyterian Boys’ Sec. Sch: 18
Opoku Ware School: 8
Adisadel College: 7
Round Three – Problem of the Day
Presbyterian Boys’ Sec. Sch: 23
Adisadel College: 15
Opoku Ware School: 14
Round Four – True or False
Presbyterian Boys’ Sec. Sch: 33
Adisadel College: 28
Opoku Ware School: 18
Round Five – Riddles
Presbyterian Boys’ Sec. Sch: 36
Adisadel College: 31
Opoku Ware School: 21
The National Science & Maths Quiz and Science Festival is sponsored by the Ghana Education Service in partnership with Absa Bank Ghana Limited and supported by Joy News, Prudential Life Insurance, Goil, Airtel Tigo, Dano Milk, Academic City, Accra College of Medicine, Academic City, Central University, GTP, Newmount Ghana, Adansi Travels, Medifem Multi-specialist Hospital and Fertility Centre, Third Eyecare Vision Centre and YFM.
The NSMQ is proudly produced by Primetime.
