PRESEC-Legon Wins 2026 NSMQ to Secure Record Ninth Title
Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC-Legon) has won the 2026 National Science & Maths Quiz (NSMQ), extending its record as the competition’s most successful school with a ninth national championship.
PRESEC emerged victorious after a dramatic three-way Grand Finale against St. Augustine’s College (AUGUSCO) and Accra Academy at the UG Premier Domes, University of Ghana, on Thursday, September 10, 2026.
The victory marks PRESEC’s return to the top of Ghana’s most prestigious secondary-school academic competition after the school missed the Grand Finale in 2024 and was eliminated at the quarter-final stage in 2025.
A dramatic road to number nine
PRESEC entered the 2026 Grand Finale as an eight-time champion, having previously won the competition in 1995, 2003, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2020, 2022 and 2023.
The school secured its place in this year’s final after defeating Tamale Senior High School and St. John’s School in the semi-final stage on September 3.
Its return to the final ended a two-year absence and set up a highly anticipated contest against two formidable opponents: two-time champions St. Augustine’s College and first-time finalists Accra Academy.
PRESEC survives a tense final
The Grand Finale proved to be a major test of composure for the PRESEC team.
According to MyJoyOnline’s account of the contest, PRESEC at one point dropped to nine points, putting its pursuit of a ninth title under serious pressure. The team, however, mounted a decisive recovery in the later stages of the competition to reclaim the lead and eventually secure the championship.
The comeback produced what has since become one of the defining moments of the 2026 competition, with the school's supporters celebrating the achievement as an “ADO9” moment—a reference to PRESEC’s traditional identity and its ninth NSMQ championship.
Accra Academy makes historic debut
For Accra Academy, the 2026 Grand Finale was already historic before the first question was answered.
The school reached the national final for the first time in its history after defeating Bright Senior High School and Achimota School in the semi-final.
Accra Academy finished that semi-final contest with 54 points, ahead of Bright SHS on 44 points and Achimota School on 43 points, earning its place among the final three contenders.
Its appearance therefore represented a significant milestone for the school, even though it ultimately fell short of the championship.
AUGUSCO continues strong NSMQ run
St. Augustine’s College also entered the final with an established NSMQ pedigree.
The Cape Coast-based school had previously won the competition in 2007 and 2019 and reached the 2026 Grand Finale after overcoming Prempeh College and Pope John Senior High School and Minor Seminary in the semi-final.
The 2026 appearance marked another consecutive Grand Finale appearance for AUGUSCO and gave the school an opportunity to add a third title to its collection.
Despite mounting a strong challenge, the school was unable to prevent PRESEC from claiming the trophy.
PRESEC extends its dominance
The 2026 victory further strengthens PRESEC-Legon’s position at the top of the NSMQ record books.
The school now has nine national titles, extending its lead over the competition's other multiple champions.
Its previous championship came in 2023, when PRESEC defeated Achimota School and Opoku Ware School to claim its eighth title. The 2026 triumph therefore represents the school's return to championship glory after three years.
The achievement also adds another chapter to PRESEC's long-standing reputation for academic excellence and competitive success in science and mathematics.
A significant year for Ghanaian academic competition
The 2026 NSMQ season featured 174 schools competing for the national title before the field was progressively reduced through the preliminary, one-eighth, quarter-final and semi-final stages.
The Grand Finale ultimately brought together three schools with very different NSMQ histories: PRESEC, an established record-holder seeking its ninth title; AUGUSCO, a two-time champion seeking a third; and Accra Academy, making its first appearance at the final stage.
In the end, it was PRESEC's experience, resilience and late comeback that proved decisive.
PRESEC's ninth crown
With the 2026 title secured, PRESEC-Legon has once again established itself as the champion of Ghana's National Science & Maths Quiz.
The ninth championship not only extends the school's record but also caps a remarkable comeback after its absence from the 2024 final and its early elimination in the 2025 competition.
For PRESEC, the 2026 NSMQ campaign will be remembered for one defining achievement: surviving a tense Grand Finale to bring home the school's ninth national trophy.
PRESEC-Legon — 2026 NSMQ Champions.
