[WATCH] Ghanian migrant's friends urged to pass on recording to police

Public appeal made to retrieve recording left by Ghanian migrant

Prime Minister Joseph Muscat has appealed to friends of Frederick Ofosu, a 32-year-old man from Ghana who took his own life on Saturday, to come forward with any recording the migrant was reported to have left behind.

Ofosu was found strangled with an electric cable in a Qawra building site, The Times reported, and left a recorded message explaining why he killed himself: he was being forced to feel like a criminal, when he had done nothing wrong.

The man been in Malta for eight years and did not have temporary protection as previously reported. Malta has 1,200 migrants who fall under the Temporary Humanitarian Protection-New (THPn) statuses, given to failed asylum seekers.

“A section of the media has reported that the man left a recording that might shed light as to why he committed this gesture,” Muscat said on Friday. “I have no reason to doubt those who reported this or the victim’s friends when they speak of a recording, but so far, the police have not come across any recordings.”

The prime minister said that, due to the serious nature of the allegations raised by what was reported to be in the recording, he was appealing to whoever might have some information about the recording to come forward.

“I can guarantee anyone who comes forward with information will not face any repercussion,” Muscat said. “But this is a crucial element for the police to examine.”