Multinational mining firm, Newmont Goldcorp Ghana, has gifted the representatives of Wesley Girls’ Senior High School in the just-ended National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) GHS20,000 for emerging as the best performing female school in the competition.

Although they could not make it to the grand finale, the Cape Coast-based all-female school was given the prize money at the end of the competition held at the National Theatre in Accra on Thursday, 11 July 2019.

The move to acknowledge the best female school is an initiative by Newmont Goldcorp Ghana to promote the participation of girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).

Newmont has championed the course for the promotion of STEM among women for years and has embarked on programmes, outreaches and provided support for the initiative.

“Yesterday, we presented our GHS20,000 prize to Wesley Girls’ High School’s contestants for emerging the best performing female school at the #NSMQ19. The girls will also have the opportunity to participate in Newmont Goldcorp Ghana’s Girls Leadership Summit later this month and tour one of our mines. The award is in line with our inclusion value and support for #GirlsinSTEM. #Inclusion #GirlsforGold,” the management of Newmont Goldcorp wrote on the company’s official Facebook page.

At the end of the final contest, St. Augustine’s College, also based in Cape Coast, Central Region, won the competition.

St. Augustine’s College nudged off five-time champions Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC), Legon and defending champions St. Peter’s Senior High School, Kwahu Nkwatia, Eastern Region.

St. Augustine’s College led in all the five rounds and ended with 39 points with Presec bagging 34 points and St. Peter’s managing 25.

“At end of the fifth round, here are the final scores: St. Peter’s had 25 points, Presec, Legon had 34 and St. Augustine’s College had 39 points,” quiz mistress Dr Elsie Kuaffmann announced at the National Theatre in Accra.



She added: “As far as I am concerned, you are all champions but I have to make some distinctions. St. Peter’s, you have done very well, congratulations but today was tough, the Egyptians were too strong for you. Never mind you have earned GHS1,500 GCB Bank money zone.

“Presec, Legon, congrats as well, you have done very well but the opposition was great for you. Nonetheless, you have earned GHS2,000 in the GCB Bank money zone.

“St. Augustine’s College, congrats on winning the contest, you did it. You have earned GHS 2,340.”

At a point in the competition, Dr Kauffmann had to remind the representatives of Presec to take their time to answer the questions, as they were getting answers that ordinarily, a Presecan would have scored, wrong.

“Patience is sometimes a virtue,” she advised the Presecans.