President Akufo-Addo has congratulated Alban Sumana Bagbin for his election as Speaker of the 8th Parliament of the Fourth Republic.

Speaking at his swearing-in ceremony, the President said praised the new Speaker's unparalleled service to the country as a legislator.

"Nearly three decades of devoted service to Parliament by you has culminated in this moment, which has seen your elevation to the third great office of the state of our nation," he said.

According to him, although Mr Bagbin is a Speaker nominated by the opposition NDC he is confident the two of them will work together in the interest of the Ghanaians.

“Together, you and I will be charting new territory in the governance and politics of the 4th Republic, for this is the first time in the life of this Republic that a President from one party will be obliged, by the exigencies of the moment and the will of the people, to work, in all sincerity and co-operation, with a Speaker of Parliament from another party,” he said.

President Akufo-Addo assured Mr Babgin that he is determined to work with him to advance the peace, progress and prosperity of the Ghanaian people.

"Once again, many congratulations to you and the re-elected and new Members of Parliament."

In a closely contested secret ballot in Parliament on Thursday for the position of Speaker of Parliament, Former MP for Nadowli Kaleo, Alban Sumana Bagbin of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was elected Speaker of the House.

Polling 138 votes, Alban Bagbin won against his predecessor Prof. Aaron Mike Ocquaye who had 136 votes. One legislator failed to vote.

The long dragged-out process lasted over nine hours which delayed the swearing-in of MPs-elect and the selection process of a Speaker for the 8^th Parliament.

Eventually, four hours after the secret ballot amidst a lot of jostling, Mr Bagbin was declared winner and was sworn in by the Chief Justice, Kwesi Anin-Yeboah.

Mr Bagbin, who is the oldest serving MP, makes history for being the first Speaker of Parliament who is not selected by the governing party.

Meanwhile, former President John Mahama has also extended his congratulations to Mr Bagbin on his lection.

He said the election of one of the oldest-serving MPs “affirms what a great democracy we can build for ourselves and how dialogue and consensus building can make us even stronger as a nation.”