Ghana

Parliament

Political system: Presidential system
Structure of parliament: Unicameral
IPU membership: Yes

Election results

Data on parliamentary elections, including the background, candidates, voter turnout, results and the formation of the new legislature. By default the latest election results are displayed. Select a date to view results from previous elections.

Background

Election date(s): 07 Dec 2020
Date of dissolution of the outgoing legislature: 06 Jan 2021
Timing of election: Upon normal expiry
Expected date of next elections: 07 Dec 2024
Number of seats at stake: 275
Scope of elections: Full renewal

Voter turnout

Registered voters: 17,027,641

Results

About the election: 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.
Number of parties winning seats: 2
Percentage of seats won by largest party or coalition: 49.8%
Alternation of power after elections: No
Number of parties in government: 1
Names of parties in government: New Patriotic Party

Parties or coalitions winning seats

Parties or coalitions winning seats
Political group	Total
New Patriotic Party (NPP)	137
National Democratic Congress (NDC)	137
Independents	1

Members elected, by sex

Number of men elected: 235
Number of women elected: 40
Percentage of women elected: 14.5%
Women Directly Elected: 40
Sources: Parliament (15.01.2021)

https://www.ec.gov.gh/

https://www.ec.gov.gh/

BBC

Reuters

AFP

https://www.theafricareport.com

https://www.africanews.com

New legislature

Total number of men after the election: 235
Total number of women after the election: 40
Percentage of women after the election: 14.5%
First-term parliamentarians: 130
Percentage of first-term parliamentarians: 47.3%
Date of the first session: 07 Jan 2021

First Speaker of the new legislature

Personal details for the first Speaker of the new legislature: Alban Kingsford Sumana Bagbin (Male)
Political party: National Democratic Congress (NDC)
Date of election: 07 Jan 2021