By Emmanuel Bamfo 
The 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) grand finale came to an end with serious excitement, loud jama songs, and pure academic muscle. While PRESEC Legon lifted their record-extending ninth trophy, every single school that reached the finals took home something big.
People were talking everywhere about the impressive performance of the students. Beyond the bragging rights and the shiny trophy, the real talk on the street center on the heavy cash prizes. The Ghana Education Service (GES) and the Ministry of Education provided a total cash package of GH¢194,000 to reward the three finalists.
Understanding how the money was divided among the schools, students, and teachers gives a clear picture of how academic excellence is recognized. The breakdown shows that everyone involved in the preparation received a fair share of the reward.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ 2026 NSMQ FINALISTS PRIZE SHARE │
├───────────────────┬──────────────┬──────────────┬───────────┤
│ Recipient │ Champion │ 1st Runner │ 2nd Runner│
│ Category │ (PRESEC) │ (Accra Aca) │ (AUGUSCO) │
├───────────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼───────────┤
│ School │ GH¢40,000 │ GH¢30,000 │ GH¢20,000 │
│ Student Contestants│ GH¢20,000 │ GH¢17,000 │ GH¢15,000 │
│ Teaching Staff │ GH¢20,000 │ GH¢17,000 │ GH¢15,000 │
├───────────────────┼──────────────┼──────────────┼───────────┤
│ TOTAL SHARE │ GH¢80,000 │ GH¢64,000 │ GH¢50,000 │
└───────────────────┴──────────────┴──────────────┴───────────┘
PRESEC Legon Took the Bigger Chunk as Champions
Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC Legon) showed their strength on the big stage once again to grab the title. For winning the competition, the Odadeɛ boys bagged the ultimate prize package of GH¢80,000 from the main pool.
The school administration received GH¢40,000 directly to support science education infrastructure. The two main student contestants who fought hard on the stage shared GH¢20,000 among themselves. The hard-working teachers who trained the boys day and night also carried home GH¢20,000 for their effort.
PRESEC did not stop there because they added extra cash bonuses like the Pepsodent Highest Scorer award and GOIL Super Bonanza money. Their dominant performance showed why they remain the most successful school in the history of the competition.
Accra Academy Made History with First Runner-Up Cash
Accra Academy made their very first NSMQ grand finale appearance in 2026 and proved that they came to compete. The Bleoo boys gave PRESEC a tough battle and successfully secured the second position overall.
Their strong performance earned them a total package of GH¢64,000 from the organizers. The school authority took GH¢30,000 to boost their academic resources. The student contestants shared GH¢17,000 while their dedicated handlers and teachers also received GH¢17,000.
Making it to the finals brought massive pride to Bleoo alumni across the world who supported the team throughout the journey. Their prize money reflects the incredible progress the school made in science and mathematics education.
St. Augustine’s College Secured Third Place Prize Money
St. Augustine’s College (AUGUSCO) brought intense energy into the auditorium and fought bravely until the final round. Even though they finished as second runners-up, the Cape Coast giants did not leave empty-handed.
AUGUSCO walked away with a total cash reward of GH¢50,000 for their impressive run. The school received GH¢20,000, while the contestants and teachers received GH¢15,000 each for their remarkable dedication.
Combining these amounts brings the grand total from GES and the Ministry to exactly GH¢194,000 for all three schools. Old students from AUGUSCO also stepped in with extra personal cash packages to reward the boys for making the school proud.
Beyond the Cash: Extra Rewards and Sponsorship Packages
The money from GES was just one part of the huge reward haul at the 2026 grand finale. Corporate sponsors stepped up in a big way to add more value to the hard work of these young scholars.
All contestants from the three finalist schools received a special Coronation Insurance cover worth GH¢15,000 each for six months. Prominent individual awards like the Prof. Marian Ewurama Addy Award also brought extra thousands of Ghana cedis to top-performing teams.
These cash prizes and educational scholarships ensure that brilliant students get the needed support for their tertiary education. It encourages upcoming junior high and senior high students to take STEM subjects seriously for a brighter future.
Also Read: Presec crowned NSMQ 2026 champions see final scores
Source: Ghana News Page