By Opesika Tetteh Puplampu (Stringer)
Viepe (Near Aflao), Mar. 05, GNA – An 11-year-old boy had the planter of his foot slashed with a knife by his father, Gershon Alaglo, a taxi driver and commercial motor rider, for abandoning school for the beach.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Viepe, in the Ketu South District, Volta Region, left the boy bedridden and receiving home treatment.
According to Madam Deborah Ankrah, the victim’s mother, the victim was given money by his father to attend school but instead went to the beach.
Madam Ankrah told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) that upon the return of the victim from the beach, his father slashed the underside of his feet with a knife, rendering him unable to walk.
She said that at the time of the incident, she was in Accra and had to be rushed to Viepe upon hearing about it, only to find her son bedridden and in distress.
When GNA contacted the father, Mr. Alaglo, he admitted to the act, stating that he overreacted due to anger from his son’s actions.
According to him, his son’s truancy has become rampant, stating that the victim left home on Thursday morning for school but skipped it and rather went to the beach to swim, returning on Friday dawn at about 04:00 hours.
He further said that he gave punishment to the son for about an hour before using a kitchen knife to slice the underside of his foot to serve as a deterrent to him in the future.
He added that he sent the victim to a health centre for treatment before he was taken to Accra by the mother.
The incident has raised concerns about child abuse, with some community members calling for the justice and arrest of the taxi driver.
Meanwhile, the Aflao Police Command has since confirmed the incident.
GNA