Ghana parties shock about president's death

ACCRA - Political parties in Ghana have expressed shock about the death of President John Evans Atta Mills on Tuesday.

The Chief of Staff at the Presidency Henry Martey Newman announced the death of the president saying he died at the 37 Military hospital in the capital while receiving medical attention after being taken ill.

The largest opposition party in Ghana the New Patriotic Party (NPP) joined the nation in mourning the sad loss to Ghana and extended deepest condolences to his wife and family as well as the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Ghana's President John Evans Atta Mills speaks during a meeting with US President Barack Obama in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington in this March 8, 2012 file photograph.[Photo/Agencies]

The party said as a mark of respect it has immediately suspended the celebration of its 20th anniversary and accordingly its Presidential Candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo, has also suspended his campaign.

"We call on our fellow Ghanaians at home and abroad and friends of Ghana to join us and pray for his soul to rest in Peace," the party said in a statement signed by its national chairman Jake Obetsebi Lamptey.

The General Secretary of the Convention People's Party (CPP) Ivor Greenstreet described the event as a sad day for Ghana and the ruling NDC.

"It's a great loss to all of us," he said, "We hope that this event will bring us together as one people," Greenstreet said on local radio.

Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills, who just celebrated his 68th birthday, was billed to contest this year's presidential election scheduled for December 7.

He was inaugurated on January 7, 2009 as Ghana's fourth president of the third Republic after beating the ruling party candidate Nana Addo Danquah Akuffo Addo in the 2008 general elections.

Ghana's constitution mandates parliament to swear in the country's Vice president John Dramani Mahama as the President of the Republic, a ceremony expected to be performed in Parliament House this evening.