An 11-year-old boy had the soles of his feet slashed with a knife by his father, Gershon Alaglo, a taxi driver and commercial motor rider, for abandoning school to visit the beach.
The incident, which occurred on Friday, February 28, 2025, at Viepe in the Ketu South District of the Volta Region, left the boy bedridden and receiving home treatment.
According to Deborah Ankrah, the victim’s mother, the boy was given money by his father to attend school but instead went to the beach.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), she explained that when the victim returned home from the beach, his father slashed the underside of his feet with a knife, rendering him unable to walk.
She added that at the time of the incident, she was in Accra. Upon hearing the news, she rushed to Viepe, only to find her son bedridden and in distress.
When GNA contacted the father, Alaglo, he admitted to the act, stating that he overreacted out of anger.
According to him, his son’s truancy had become a recurring issue. He explained that the boy left home on Thursday morning for school but instead skipped classes and went to the beach to swim, returning home at around 4:00 a.m. on Friday.
Alaglo further stated that after punishing his son for about an hour, he used a kitchen knife to cut the underside of his foot as a warning to prevent future misbehaviour.
He added that he later took the boy to a health centre for treatment before the mother transported him to Accra.
The incident has sparked outrage in the community, with many residents condemning the act as child abuse and calling for justice. Some have demanded the arrest of the taxi driver.
Meanwhile, the Aflao Police Command has confirmed the incident and is expected to take further action.
Source: GNA
