The stage is set for what promises to be one of the most electrifying showdowns in the history of the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) as Mfantsipim School, St. Augustine’s College, and Opoku Ware battle for supremacy in the 2025 grand finale.
This year’s contest is more than just a test of intellect, it is a clash of legacy, pride, and regional dominance. Between them, the three schools boast eight NSMQ trophies and more than a dozen finals appearances, making the 2025 final a meeting of Ghana’s true academic heavyweights.
Mfantsipim School: The School Returns to Defend Its Throne
After a triumphant 2024 victory, Mfantsipim School returns to the big stage hoping to achieve a rare back-to-back NSMQ win – a feat only PRESEC has accomplished.
“The School,” as they are famously called, has three titles to its name (1999, 2014, and 2024), each symbolizing a rebirth of academic might. Known for producing pioneers and intellectual trailblazers, Mfantsipim’s defending champions are entering the 2025 finals with confidence, determined to prove that their recent success was no fluke.
Observers say their tactical depth and experience under pressure could give them the edge in this year’s contest. A win would elevate Mfantsipim into NSMQ’s elite tier, alongside PRESEC and Prempeh College, as four-time champions.
St. Augustine’s College: Aiming for a Third Title
St. Augustine’s College, the pride of Cape Coast, has grown into a modern NSMQ force since their maiden win in 2007. They stunned giants again in 2019, defeating PRESEC and St. Peter’s to clinch their second title.
With a reputation for precision and resilience, “AUGUSCO” is eyeing a third national crown, which would place them shoulder-to-shoulder with Mfantsipim among the most decorated schools from Cape Coast. Their 2025 campaign has been marked by clinical performances and a renewed sense of purpose, driven by strong alumni support and tactical display.
Opoku Ware School: The ‘Akatakyie’ seek a third crown
Kumasi-based Opoku Ware School (OWASS) enters the 2025 finals with a mission to reclaim its lost glory. The Akatakyie last lifted the NSMQ trophy in 2002, following earlier victory in 1997, and have since remained perennial contenders.
Their resurgence this year has reignited the long-standing Ashanti-Central rivalry, as OWASS faces two of Cape Coast’s most formidable institutions. Known for their composure under pressure and disciplined approach to the STEM challenge, the Owass team is determined to restore their school’s position among the “Big Three” alongside PRESEC and Prempeh College.
OWASS’ wonderkid Stephen Kofi Apemah-Baah who has represented the Santasi-based school for three consecutive years is ready to lead the Father Peter Rigby Burgess boys to break the 23-year trophy thirst.
A Battle of Legacy and Geography
This year’s finals also revive an old regional rivalry: Ashanti Region’s powerhouse (Opoku Ware) versus Cape Coast’s academic titans (Mfantsipim and St. Augustine’s).
For many fans, it’s a symbolic clash between discipline and flair, tradition and innovation, and Kumasi versus Cape Coast – two cities that have defined Ghana’s educational excellence for decades.
As the countdown to the finals begins, the nation waits with bated breath to see which of these giants will lift the 2025 NSMQ trophy and etch their name once more in the annals of academic history.
Prediction or Hope?
Whether Mfantsipim defends their title, St. Augustine’s reclaims the crown, or Opoku Ware rewrites history, one thing is certain, the 2025 National Science and Maths Quiz will not only test intellect but celebrate the enduring legacy of Ghana’s most brilliant young minds.
