A 60-year-old man accused of tying his teenage son to a quad bike and dragging him through the streets of North Legon has been remanded into police custody by the Adenta Circuit Court.
The incident, which sparked widespread outrage after a disturbing video circulated on social media, has drawn national attention and prompted intervention from the government.
The teenage victim, a Class Five pupil, reportedly suffered severe injuries after his biological father allegedly tied him to the quad bike and dragged him at high speed along tarred roads in the North Legon area.
The boy was initially admitted to Legon Hospital, where he received treatment and was later discharged after doctors stabilised his condition. He has since been reunited with his mother and his disabled sibling.
On Tuesday, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, together with officials from the ministry and the Member of Parliament for Madina, Dr. Francis Xavier Sosu, visited the victim and his family at their residence.
According to the Ministry, the visit was undertaken on the instructions of President John Dramani Mahama after he reportedly saw the viral footage online.
The Ministry has since taken responsibility for the welfare of the vulnerable family. As part of immediate support measures, officials donated assorted consumables and an amount of GH¢5,000 to the family.
Authorities also announced plans to support the family’s accommodation needs and enrol them onto the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.
Speaking during the visit, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey said the government’s intervention would focus on the long-term economic empowerment of the victim’s mother.
“We are looking at the long-term economic empowerment of the mother. One of the first things is to give them the seed amount and also onboard her onto the LEAP programme. They qualify as a household of five and above,” she stated.
She further noted that the family’s other child, who lives with a disability, would also receive support from the Ministry.
The Minister also issued a warning against child abuse, stressing that anyone found to have aided the suspect in inflicting harm on the child would face prosecution.
Meanwhile, Madina MP Dr Francis Xavier Sosu said the matter would be pursued seriously to ensure justice is served.
“It’s one of those cases that we are very interested in. We are not taking it lightly,” he said.
He added that while some people have suggested leniency because the suspect has a physical disability, the law must still take its course.
“If you are physically challenged and you decide to be wicked and criminal, the law will deal with you,” he said.
The suspect, identified as Cobblah, is expected to reappear before Adenta Circuit Court One on May 25, 2026.
By Stanley Nii Blewu
