Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin says members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) supported his bid for the Speakership in 2021 because they believed he would preside over Parliament fairly and impartially.
Speaking at the 2026 National PR Summit in Koforidua on Thursday, October 22, Bagbin disclosed that his election victory was made possible by cross-party support, including votes from NPP MPs who were in the parliamentary majority at the time.
He also revealed that not all members of his own party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), voted for him during the election.
“I had the details. It's not all NDC members who voted for me. I know what I'm talking about. Many more NPP members voted for me to become the Speaker,” he stated.
Bagbin's remarks highlight the role of individual parliamentary choices in the January 7, 2021, election, which followed a general election that left Ghana's Parliament almost evenly divided between the two major political parties.
The NDC and NPP each won 137 seats in the 2020 general election, while an independent MP from Fomena later aligned with the NPP, giving the party a numerical advantage.
Despite the NPP's nomination of then Speaker Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, Bagbin emerged victorious with 138 votes, defeating Oquaye, who received 136 votes. One ballot was rejected.
The election was characterised by intense tension, confusion and physical confrontations, leading to the deployment of security personnel to restore calm in the chamber.
Bagbin subsequently became the first Speaker in Ghana's Fourth Republic to be elected from an opposition party.
His latest comments underscore his claim that confidence in his ability to lead Parliament impartially played a significant role in his election.
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