Collapse of Akufo-Addo’s bodyguard exposes wrongs in our emergency response measures - Dafeamekpor

The Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, has expressed concern over the disturbing incident in Parliament during the State of the Nation Address, when Colonel Isaac Amponsah, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s personal security guard collapsed.

Colonel Amponsah, who has served as the President’s ADC since February 2023, reportedly suffered a medical emergency while the President was addressing Parliament on January 3, 2025.

The incident caused a brief pause in proceedings as the medical response team swiftly attended to him.

Reacting to the alarming event, Dafeamekpor has described it as a serious situation that highlighted huge flaws within the country’s emergency response protocols.

He stressed that the lack of an efficient and immediate medical response raised critical questions about the country’s preparedness for handling such emergencies during state functions.

He also criticised President Akufo-Addo for continuing with his address without acknowledging the incident or showing empathy toward the family of his aide.

“This terrible incident also exposes the glaring lapses we have within our State Protocol Apparatus regarding Emergency Response Measures during State Functions.

“Imagine if it had been the President himself who collapsed suddenly, as we saw? The emergency response to resuscitate the ‘crumbled soldier’ was poor. We have work to do as a people and areas to improve,” Dafeamekpor wrote on X moments after the collapse.

He also called for urgent reforms to the country’s emergency medical response system to ensure that similar incidents are handled with the speed and efficiency required, preventing any potential catastrophe in the future.

Dafeamekpor also expressed his sympathy to Colonel Isaac Amponsah, wishing him a swift and full recovery.

Read his full post below:

I’m extremely saddened that the Prez simply continued his speech without a word of empathy to his invalid ADC and his family.

My empathies are with this ADC and pray that he recovers speedily.

This terrible incident also exposes the glaring lapses we have within our State…

— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) January 3, 2025