During President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo's final State of the Nation Address on January 3, 2025, his personal bodyguard and Aide-De-Camp (ADC), Colonel Isaac
Amponsah, collapsed in Parliament.
The incident occurred as the President was delivering his speech, causing a brief interruption as medical personnel attended to Colonel Amponsah. He later regained consciousness and was escorted out of the chamber.
Colonel Amponsah has been serving as President Akufo-Addo's ADC since February 2023, following his promotion to the rank of Colonel. Prior to this role, he was the Chief Instructor at the Military Training Academy and served at the Defence Intelligence Unit at General Headquarters.
The collapse has raised concerns about the adequacy of emergency response measures during state functions. Member of Parliament for South Dayi, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, highlighted the incident as exposing significant lapses within the State Protocol Apparatus regarding emergency response. He emphasized the need for urgent reforms to ensure efficient handling of such emergencies in the future.
As of now, there has been no official statement regarding Colonel Amponsah's current health status. The incident underscores the importance of robust emergency preparedness during high-profile events.
For a visual account of the incident,