President Nana Akufo-Addo's New Patriotic Party (NPP) ultimately retained a slim majority in the 275-member Parliament (see note 1). The Electoral Commission declared that Mr. Akufo-Addo had won the presidential elections held in parallel with the parliamentary elections. The National Democratic Congress (NDC), led by former President John Mahama, rejected the result and filed a case with the Supreme Court (which was dismissed on 4 March 2021).

On 7 January 2021, Mr. Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin (endorsed by the NDC, see note 2), narrowly defeated outgoing Speaker Mike Aaron Ocquaye in the speakership election. Mr. Bagbin thereby became the first Speaker in Ghana endorsed by the opposition. A brawl erupted during the speakership elections. Police and military forces stormed the parliament building. Later the same day, Mr. Akufo-Addo was sworn in for a second term as President.

The 2020 elections were held amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The major electoral issues included youth unemployment, security concerns and the effects of the pandemic on the economy. The elections saw rare violence in the country, seen as a bastion of democracy in West Africa. A total of eight lives, including three minors, were lost during the elections.

Note 1:
The New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) took 137 seats each but the sole independent candidate joined the NPP, thereby giving the NPP a one-seat majority. The NPP had won 169 seats in 2016. 

Note 2:
The Speaker may either be an incumbent Member of Parliament or anyone who is qualified to be elected as a Member of Parliament. Mr. Bagbin, the outgoing Second Deputy Speaker did not run for the 2020 elections. The Speaker does not automatically become a Member of Parliament and thus the number of members in the new legislature remains at 275.