The Speaker is the first officer of the House. He/She is one of the three great officers of State and he/she ranks third in the official order of precedence after the President and Vice-President.
The office of Speaker was first created in Ghana, then the Gold Coast, in 1949 when the Governor ceased to be ex-officio President of the Legislative Council.
The creation of this office marked a significant step in the history of colonial legislature. In 1951 the legislature, under the 1950 Constitution, elected its first Ghanaian Speaker, the first African to preside over a British Colonial Legislature.
The Speaker's ruling cannot be challenged except on a substantive motion.
Behind the scenes the Speaker can exercise moderating influence on both the Majority and Minority to reach consensus in certain matters. In the heat of debates he/she can cool passions.
It has been said that the Speaker can encourage the downhearted Members; he/she can discourage the over-confident, he/she can offer hope - and suggest outlets - to the frustrated.
The Speaker must not display any trace of partiality; he/she must handle the House with tact, firmness, and fairness. He must be unusually patient even under provocation.
Two Deputies assist the Speaker.
The Speaker also has an administrative role; he/she is the Chairman of the Parliamentary Service Board and has the over-all responsibility for the administration and management of the Service, which is the employer of all permanent staff.
The Speaker is elected from within or outside Parliament at the beginning of a new Parliament and holds office during the life of that Parliament.
In order to ensure his independence and authority, his salary, allowances, and pension are paid from the Consolidated Fund.
The following are the past Speakers of Parliament.

First Republic:
Sir Emmanuel Charles Quist, Kt., OBE - Mar 1951- Dec 1957
Hon. Justice Augustus Molade Akiwumi - Feb 1958 - June 1960
Hon. Joseph Richard Asiedu - July 1960 - June 1965
Hon. Kofi Asante Ofori-Atta - June 10, 1965 - Feb 22, 1966

Second Republic
Hon. Justice Nii Amaa Ollenu - Oct 1969 - Dec 1971

Third Republic
Hon. Justice Jacob Hackenburg Griffiths-Randolph - Sept 24, 1979 - Dec.
1981

Fourth Republic
Hon. Justice Daniel Francis Annan - Jan 7, 1993 - 1996
Hon. Justice Daniel Francis Annan - re-elected in 1997 for another
four years
Hon. Peter Ala Adjetey - 2001- 2005
Hon. Ebenezer Sakyi Hughes - 2005-2009