Prempeh College Edges Out Keta SHTS to Secure First 2026 NSMQ Semi-Final Spot

Prempeh College has officially secured its place in the semi-finals of the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) after a high-stakes quarter-final victory. The Kumasi-based institution displayed academic prowess and composure to emerge victorious, finishing the contest with 44 points. This win marks them as the first school to advance to the penultimate stage of this year’s competition, keeping their quest for another national title firmly on track. The contest was characterized by intense intellectual exchange, reflecting the high standards of Ghana's premier science and mathematics competition.

Prempeh College established a dominant lead from the onset, demonstrating why they are consistently viewed as formidable contenders. They opened the first round with a solid 18 points and continued to build momentum in the second round, accumulating 20 points. This early performance provided the 'Seniors' with a vital cushion that proved indispensable as the pressure mounted in the later stages of the quiz. Their ability to maintain accuracy under the spotlight set the tone for the remainder of the match, forcing their opponents into a chasing position early on.

However, the victory was not without its challenges, as Keta Senior High Technical School (Keta SHTS) mounted a spirited late-game offensive. Keta SHTS, demonstrating the resilience for which they are known, made a significant push during the final riddle round to close the scoring gap. Despite their impressive effort that brought their final tally to 39 points, they fell just five points short of overtaking the leaders. The narrow margin of victory highlighted the competitive nature of the quarter-finals and the slim margin for error at this level of the tournament.

Produced by Primetime Limited and sponsored by the Ghana Education Service alongside various corporate partners, the NSMQ continues to promote STEM education across the country. As Prempeh College moves forward, the focus now shifts to the remaining quarter-final fixtures to determine who will join them in the semi-finals. For Keta SHTS, while their journey in this edition ends, their performance reinforces their status as a consistent force in the national academic landscape, having pushed one of the competition's most successful schools to the very limit.