The president of the West African nation of Ghana, John Evans Atta Mills, has died, the president's chief of staff said in a statement Tuesday.
He died at a military hospital Tuesday afternoon, the statement said.
Mills was a former law professor and served as Ghana's vice president from 1997 to 2000. He ran for president unsuccessfully in 2000 and 2004 before winning the election in 2009.
U.S. President Barack Obama met with Mills when he visited Ghana in July 2009. Obama praised Ghana as a model for democracy and stability when Mills visited Washington this year.
"Ghana has become a wonderful success story economically on the continent," Obama said. "In part because of the initiatives of President Mills, you've seen high growth rates over the last several years. Food productivity and food security is up. There's been strong foreign investment."
Part of a former British colony, Ghana was among the first African countries to gain its independence, in 1957. It endured a series of coups before a military dictator, Jerry Rawlings, took power in 1981. Rawlings led Ghana through the transition to democracy about 10 years later.
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A Great man.. Adieu President John!
I guess the Western African nation is Ghana need a new president.
facepalm
Condolences to his family.
Adieu papa
Buenos Dias Muchacho.
This indeed is a very sad day for our dear Nation.
The president really demostrated good leadership qualities,and i do believe we lost one of ghana's fundamentalist in transformation of ghana, what a lost.
May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace
Amen. Not kidding.
Atta Millswas really a good president...He did his best and we appreciste it. Rest is peace
May his soul rest in perfect peace
Wat a shock. I neva believed tat Dis suden story wil hapen.
A truly great man indeed, humble.
I now remedised tat, human being ar nothing bt rada a paper which can be tear off
Quite sad...my thoughts are with his family & Ghanians
Am very sudden about his death we should put politics aside may his rest in peace.