The Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) has clinched the ultimate prize in the Graphic Business Tertiary Business Sense Challenge (TBSC) Version 7.0 which was held last Saturday at the Zenith University College Auditorium in Accra.
KNUST outshone defending champions, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS), and the 2023 winners, University of Education, Winneba (UEW), to secure their second national title in a fiercely contested competition.
Led by the outstanding Kwadwo Acheampong Opoku, the KNUST team — featuring Japhet Adeleke, Frederick Asontoliya and Daniel Ekow Baffoe — dominated from start to finish, amassing 77.17 points across the six rounds.
Their stellar performance earned them a golden trophy, medals, laptops, books from the Institute of Chartered Accountants Ghana (ICAG), and cash prize.
Acheampong Opoku was named the overall best performer, receiving a plaque and an undisclosed cash reward for his sharpness and precise answers.
The University of Ghana (UG) secured the first runner-up position with 54 points, taking home medals, books and cash reward.
Franklin Sowa (right), Director of Marketing and Sales at GCGL, presents the trophy to the 2025 winners of TBSC, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Picture: ESTHER ADJORKOR ADJEI
UEW followed closely in third place with 51.83 points, also receiving medals, books and cash prize.
The competition kicked off with KNUST scoring nine points in the first round, ahead of UG’s four and UEW’s five.
The lead widened in subsequent rounds, particularly in the third round’s business case presentation, where KNUST earned 16.17 points, compared to UG’s 14 and UEW’s 13.83.
The fourth round, focused on Graphic Business Stories, saw KNUST score 21 points, while UEW and UG earned 18 and 19 points respectively.
KNUST maintained their dominance in the fifth round with 13 points, same as UEW, while UG scored four.
In the final riddle round, KNUST clinched six points, with UEW earning three and UG scoring none.
The event, attended by the sponsors, including Elizabeth Frempong, Brands and Communication Manager of CompuGhana, and Paula Adum-Yeboah of PwC, featured a panel of judges, namely Albert Nii Ayi Tagoe, Dickson Assan and Racheal Hemans, who evaluated the business case presentations.
Sponsors and organisers encouraged participants to prioritise their studies and strive for excellence.
The Director, Marketing, Graphic Communications Group Ltd, Franklin Sowa, praised the students’ business acumen and academic sharpness, emphasising that the TBSC was a permanent fixture designed to bridge academic theory and real-world business.
The competition aims to foster critical thinking, ethical awareness and environmental consciousness among tertiary students.
The Quiz Master, Alhassan Trawule, revealed exciting updates for future editions, including a new format with comprehensive case study presentations to be judged by panels, alongside training in computer literacy and mentorship sessions with seasoned professionals.
This year’s competition featured over 26 schools participating, including new entrants.
Until last Saturday, University of Cape Coast was the most successful school in the competition, having won the competition in 2019 and 2021.
After Saturday’s triumph, UCC were joined by KNUST as the only institutions to have won the coveted title twice each, with KNUST winning its first title in 2022.
UG (2024), UEW (2023) and the S. D. Dombo University for Integrated Business Development Studies (2020) are all past winners of the competition.
The competition was supported by sponsors, including ICAG, MTN, PricewaterHouseCoopers (PwC), GLICO Life Insurance, Peeva Beverages, Papaye, GCB Bank PLC and CompuGhana, reinforcing its role as a transformative platform for Ghana’s future business leaders.