Alban Bagbin, who is a stalwart of the NDC, was historically elected the Speaker of the 8th Parliament on Thursday, January 7, 2021. Mr. Bagbin beat off competition from the ruling New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) nominee, Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye. MP for Ningo-Prampram, Sam George, Pulse Ghana This is the first time in Ghana’s history that a candidate from the opposition party has been elected Speaker of Parliament. “If we wanted to hold the President to ransom, the Speaker would not have been allowed to appear for the President’s swearing-in ceremony,” Sam George told Accra-based Citi FM. “We would have just asked the First Deputy Speaker, Joe Osei Owusu to replace him. We are not that kind of party."