Lampedusa disaster: A Ghanaian feared dead

The German international television network, Deutshe Welle reports death of one Ghanaian in the Lampedusa tragedy, despite recent denial by Government.

The German international network is reporting the death of one Ghanaian, Martin Ofori in the recent boat tragedy of Lampedusa in Italy.

This is in spite of recent denial by the Ghanaian Government that no Ghanaian was involved in the incident. Government on Wednesday said no Ghanaians were involved in the boat disaster off the coast of Lampedusa in Italy.

A statement signed by Mr Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Deputy Minister of Information and Media Relation said: “Government can confirm that contrary to initial reports, no Ghanaian casualty was recorded.”

It said a team was dispatched from Ghana’s mission in Italy to Lampedusa to ascertain the veracity of the reports that some Ghanaians had lost their lives.

“The team after days of thorough investigations, found no evidence of the involvement of Ghanaians in the disaster,” it added.

However, in a two minute television report by DW TV, a man called Johnson Ofori claimed his brother, Martin Ofori died in the accident.

Speaking in the awkward English language commonly known as 'broken English', Johnson said: "My friend call me say your brother is die o.

"My father called me say your brother is die," the man said in the report.

According to Johnson, his late brother refused to heed to advise for him to focus and find a job in Libya where he was but insisted on going to Europe to work and send money home.

Martin, according to the report left behind three children back home in Ghana. At least 34 people were confirmed dead when a boat laden with African migrants capsized near the Italian island of Lampedusa last week.

About least 220 people were saved from the capsized vessel. Approximately 250 people were believed to have been on board.

Meanwhile, another boat has capsized in the same area, killing dozens of people, mostly migrants. At least 27 people died when a boat carrying more than 200 migrants capsized in the Mediterranean, Malta's prime minister has confirmed.

Italian and Maltese ships - backed by helicopters - were scrambled to the scene and are searching in darkness.

Maltese PM Joseph Muscat said 203 people had so far been rescued.

The boat capsized 120km (70 miles) off Lampedusa, an Italian island where more than 300 African migrants drowned when their vessel went down last week.

The vessel is believed to have encountered difficulties just before sunset. Reports said people on board had crowded to one side of the boat, causing it to capsize, as they tried to get the attention of a passing aircraft.