Ghanaian lawmaker and Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, collapsed while delivering a speech to students at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) in Accra on Thursday.
Sosu was addressing the gathering on leadership, his personal experiences and commitment to public service when he suddenly appeared to become unwell and lost consciousness on stage.
Video footage from the event showed the lawmaker becoming unsteady at the podium before people around him quickly rushed to his aid. He briefly appeared to regain composure but subsequently slumped again and was assisted away from the stage.
Moments before the incident, Sosu had been speaking about leadership and the importance of service.
“I respectfully submit that if you want to be a good leader, let service be your hallmark,” he told the audience shortly before he appeared to collapse.
The incident temporarily disrupted the engagement as attendees and members of the protocol team moved swiftly to assist the lawmaker.
Sosu was subsequently taken for medical attention.
However, his office later moved to allay concerns over his condition, confirming that the Madina MP was doing well and had received the necessary medical attention.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the lawmaker’s office urged the public to remain calm and avoid relying on unverified reports or speculation concerning the incident.
The office also expressed appreciation to constituents, supporters and well-wishers for their concern, prayers and messages of support, while noting that further information would be communicated through official channels when necessary.
The cause of Sosu’s sudden collapse has not been disclosed by his office.
The incident has nevertheless attracted widespread attention in Ghana after video footage from the GIMPA engagement circulated online.
Sosu represents the Madina Constituency in Ghana’s Parliament.
