On July 26, 2023, residents of Potsin in the Gomoa East District of the Central Region discovered Philip Dadzie, a 14-year-old JHS 2 student in a bush severely wounded, they naturally felt enormous pity for the helpless lad and immediately got to work to save him and give him the best medical care possible.
His wounds made many teary and frightened that he could lose his young life. Many were deeply touched and expressed sympathy, cursing the assailants who had attempted to take his life.
The boy, when asked how he had sustained such life-threatening, horrifying wounds, replied that some persons had attacked him in the morning as he jogged along the Potsin Dominase road.
His narration sounded plausible, and the compassionate rescuers believed him and sought care for him.
Donations within and outside of the country poured in, and Philip Dadzie was moved to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra for medical care.
But as the story went viral on both mainstream and social media, the truth about the matter was soon uncovered.
Philip Dadzie had sustained the wounds while he attempted to steal bags of onions at the Dominase Onion Market.
When security persons at the market caught him red-handed and attempted to arrest him, he attacked them with a knife.
The security persons retaliated with machetes. Accomplices of Philip Dadzie fled upon his arrest.
Somehow, he managed to flee notwithstanding his wounds. His accomplices then found him, put him at the location where he was later found, and coached him on what to say if he was rescued, according to Citi News sources.
The security persons who had inflicted the wounds on him went to the police station to inform them of the robbery attempt and the ensuing violence between them and the suspect.
Upon interrogation, he admitted to attempting to steal the bags of onions and getting into a knife fight with the security persons.
He has since been discharged from the 37 Military Hospital and is assisting the Central Region Police in investigations.