At just 18, Stephen Kofi Apemah Baah has already made his mark on the National Science and Maths Quiz (NSMQ) stage not once, not twice, but three times.
When he first walked onto that stage as a Form One student in 2023, he made history. Stephen became the first-ever contestant to represent Opoku Ware School at that level and not only did he compete, he helped his team reach the finals.
That year, he was the boy everyone was talking about the youngest in the competition, calm under pressure, quick with equations, and fearless before the buzzer.
But in 2024, the story didn’t go as planned. Opoku Ware, aiming to repeat their success, fell at the quarterfinal stage. For Stephen, that moment hit hard.
“I just went blank. I felt like giving up,” he recalls. “But my family and friends kept me going they reminded me why I started.”
This year, in 2025, Stephen is back older, sharper, and more determined than ever. His return isn’t just about redemption. It’s about resilience and the belief that greatness is built in persistence, not perfection.
His teammate, John Kusi, who has worked with him closely, says Stephen’s discipline makes him easy to team up with. The two once faced each other in junior high school quiz contests, but now, they move in sync focused on one goal: bringing the NSMQ trophy back to Kumasi.
And while some describe Stephen as too serious or distant, those who know him say otherwise. “I’m actually one of the friendliest people you’ll meet,” he laughs.
Away from the quiz stage, Stephen is a music lover. His playlist swings from Metro Boomin’s “Am I Dreaming” to Black Sherif’s “Eye Open” and Joe Mettle’s “Onwanwani.”
For him, music is fuel and faith is foundation.
As Opoku Ware School embarks on its 10th NSMQ final appearance in history, chasing a third national title their first since 2002 Stephen’s story stands as a reminder that true champions don’t rise once; they rise again and again.
“Whether we win or lose,” he says, “life continues.”
And maybe that’s the lesson behind Stephen’s journey that beyond the trophies and titles, it’s the courage to keep showing up that truly defines greatness.
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