Response to the Ruling and Subsequent Petition on the Quarterfinal Contest Between KETASCO and AUGUSCO

 

St. Augustine’s College (AUGUSCO) has taken note of the press statement issued by the Sharks Quiz Academic Board regarding the quarterfinal contest held on March 19, 2026, as well as a subsequent communication from the Management of Keta Senior High Technical School (KETASCO) on the same matter.

Our attention has further been drawn to two deeply troubling developments to which we wish to respond firmly:

a. A decision by the organisers to re-stage the contest by requiring the two schools to re-compete on the tie-breaker question; and
b. A letter from KETASCO urging the organisers to declare them winners of a contest they did not win in open competition.

The College acknowledges and commends the Academic Talent Development Programme and the Sharks Quiz team for their sustained efforts in fostering a competitive academic environment and exposing students to Olympiad-level problem-solving. As defending champions of this prestigious competition, we remain committed to its standards of excellence, fairness, and intellectual rigour.

In light of the foregoing, St. Augustine’s College wishes to state its position as follows:

1. On the Validity of the Answer “Climax”

While we respect the office of the Academic Board, St. Augustine’s College respectfully but firmly disagrees with the ruling that “Climax” should be accepted as a correct answer within the context of the question posed. The question explicitly referenced Greek tragedy—a discipline grounded in the foundational principles of Aristotle’s Poetics.

Within that precise canonical framework, the moment of highest tension is most accurately identified as peripeteia, denoting a reversal of fortune. Academic precision, particularly in a competitive quiz setting—and most especially in a tie-breaker question—demands adherence to such technical specificity rather than recourse to broader, generalised interpretations. Notably, the quiz mistress herself declared peripeteia as the intended correct answer.

2. On Procedural Consistency

Under the established rules governing this competition, any protest regarding a question must be raised and resolved before the declaration of final results. The events that followed this contest represent a clear and serious departure from this long-standing procedural norm, raising legitimate concerns about consistency and fairness in adjudication.

We note for the record that the protest against this question was lodged after results had been declared and the audience had left the studio.

3. On the Integrity of the Competition

We wish to place on record that any attempt to alter the outcome of a concluded contest—one in which the organisers formally declared St. Augustine’s College winners—poses a grave risk to the credibility and integrity that the Sharks Quiz has built over the years.

The reputation of a competition of this stature must rest on the authority of its organisers and their resolve to uphold the rules by which it is governed. Any capitulation to external pressure will irreparably erode the confidence of participants, institutions, and the broader public in this programme.

While we trust in the good judgment of the Academic Board to uphold the rules and established practices governing quiz competitions—and not to reopen a concluded contest—we wish to state clearly that St. Augustine’s College has sought legal counsel on this matter.

Should the organisers proceed to stage a fresh contest or purport to declare any other party as winners of this quarterfinal, the College will not hesitate to pursue all available legal remedies.

St. Augustine’s College remains committed to sportsmanship, fairness, and academic excellence. We trust that the Sharks Quiz Academic Board will give full and careful consideration to all the facts and act in a manner that upholds the integrity and long-term reputation of this esteemed competition.

Thank you.

Rev. Fr. Patrick Godfred Appiah, PhD
Headmaster
St. Augustine’s College
Cape Coast

Date: 21 March 2026

Cc:

Regional Director, GES (Central Region)
Metro Director, GES (Central Region)
Board Chair, St. Augustine’s College
Chairman, PTA, St. Augustine’s College
Chairman, Staff Welfare, St. Augustine’s College
Global President, APSU, Accra
Sharks Quiz Coordinator, St. Augustine’s College