Ghana Girls School Returns to Quiz Finals After Tiebreaker

An all-girls school in Ghana just proved that keeping your cool under pressure can change everything.

Holy Child School, known locally as Holico, secured their return to the National Science and Maths Quiz Championship after answering the final tiebreaker question correctly at the Central Regional Qualifiers. The Elmina-based school hadn't competed at the national level in two years.

The competition came down to Holico and Mankessim Senior High Technical School in a contest that had spectators on the edge of their seats. Four schools started the day battling for a single spot at nationals, and no one could pull ahead.

Holy Child opened strong with 22 points in the first round, just one point ahead of Mankessim. But Mankessim fought back in the Speed Race round, taking a narrow lead at 28 points to Holy Child's 27.

The gap widened slightly during the True or False round, with Mankessim reaching 40 points while Holy Child stayed close at 38. The tension built as both schools traded correct answers.

Everything came down to the Riddles round. Holy Child answered the first riddle correctly, then Mankessim got the second one right to draw even. When Academy of Christ the King answered the final riddle, the two leading schools remained tied, forcing a sudden-death question.

Holy Child's students delivered the winning answer when it mattered most. The correct response sent them to the 2026 NSMQ Championship and sparked celebrations across their campus.

Why This Inspires

This victory represents more than just academic achievement. The National Science and Maths Quiz is Ghana's premier intellectual competition, often drawing television audiences in the hundreds of thousands and inspiring young people across the country to pursue STEM education.

Holy Child's return to the national stage after their absence shows that setbacks don't define your future. The students stayed focused through five intense rounds of questioning, never letting early deficits shake their confidence.

Their composure during the tiebreaker, with everything on the line and the pressure at its peak, demonstrates the kind of resilience that extends far beyond quiz competitions.

Now Holy Child joins schools from across Ghana at the national championship, ready to represent their region and inspire the next generation of young women in science and mathematics.