Ghana mourns President as uncertain future awaits the ruling party

The President of the Republic of Ghana, John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills has been pronounced dead. 

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana." A statement signed by the Chief of Staff, Martey Newman indicated that the 68-year-old died a few hours after being taken ill.Click  here to read the statement confirming the President’s death.

Earlier in the day he had informed Parliament he was going for a day’s visit to Nigeria.

Rev Amo Darko, a member of the Council of State, was traveling with the president when he was said to have collapsed at the Kotoka Airport and was quickly rushed to the 37 Military Hospital.

The president is said to have died from acute cardiac arrest soon after getting to the hospital. Other sources claim President Mills died of Throat Cancer.

President Mills, 68, is the first sitting President to have died in the political history of Ghana.

He has been in power since 2009. President Mills a few weeks ago returned to Ghana after visiting the US for medical check-up.

Veep turned President John Dramani Mahama taking oath of Office

Parliament convened immediately to swear-in Vice President John Dramani Mahama as President of the Fourth Republic in accordance with Article 60 (6 -10) of Ghana's constitution as interim leader for the remainder of his tenure.
As per the Ghanaian constitution:

Article 60.

(6) Whenever the President dies, resigns or is removed from office, the Vice-President shall assume office as President for the unexpired term of office of the President with effect from the date of the death, resignation or removal of the President.

(7) Where the unexpired term served by the Vice-President under clause (6) of this article exceeds half the term of a President, the Vice-President is subsequently only eligible to serve one full term as President.

(9) The Vice-President shall, before commencing to perform the functions of the President under clause (6) of this article, take and subscribe the oath set out in the Second Schedule to this Constitution in relation to the office of President.

(10) The Vice-President shall, upon assuming office as President under clause (6) of this article, nominate a person to the office of Vice-President subject to approval by Parliament.

President John Mahama will do well by quickly nominating someone to complete the transition to send positive signals to both the international and business communities that Ghana has come of age to take its rightful place among community of nations. He must consider competence rather than ethnic allegiances as the current situation proves that the position of a Vice President is not a mere formality. So far names I gather have been penciled are Fanti ethnic group: Hannah Tetteh, Kwesi Botchwey, Goosie Tanoh, and Kwesi Ahwoi. Not a good omen on ethnic grounds and age wise.

Mills was selected as the ruling National Democratic Congress' (NDC) candidate for the forthcoming presidential election scheduled to take place on December 7, 2012. His tenure in office was due to end on January 6, 2013 for his first term. 

Political scientists however say the real challenge ahead is not the transition from the deceased president to his vice but the candidacy for the NDC in the December presidential poll. According to the NDC's constitution, in the current circumstance, the candidate who placed second in the party's presidential congress last July 2011 is the automatic replacement. If this were to be the case, then the former First Lady and wife of the founder of the NDC, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings will have to be the presidential candidate of the NDC. The fear of many is whether the competing interests within the NDC will allow the constitution of the party to take its natural course as the national constitution prevailed. 

 If this scenario was to happen, that will mean an end to the Johns dynasty and the heralding of the Nanas epoch. Since the coming into effect of the 1992 Fourth Republic on January 7, 1993, all the occupants of the presidential seat have first names as JOHN. From 1993 to 2001 (JOHN Rawlings), 2001 to 2009 (JOHN Kufuor), 2009 to 24 July 2012 JOHN Atta Mills, and 24 July 2012 to 7 January (JOHN Mahama).

The ruling NDC's formidable opponent, the New Patriotic Party's (NPP) candidate also has first name NANA Akufo Addo. So the question is will it be NANA Akufo Addo or NANA Konadu Agyemang Rawlings?
Africa will learn to escape this fate: Guinea Bissau (Malam Bacai Sanhá 64; 9 January 2012) Malawi (Bingu wa Matharika 78; April 5, 2012),  and Ghana (John Atta Mills 68; July 24, 2012) all within the first seven months of 2012 I believe had dwarfed Prophet TB Joshua's prophesy that one African leader was going to die in 2012. The Ethiopian government has kept the deteriorating health of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, 57, a secret. His absence from 19th African Union summit in Addis Ababa between 9th and 16th July 2012 as a host for the first time since he took power 21 years ago raised a questions about his state of health. The government has since admitted Meles is under medical treatment and the situation is not "life threatening". But reliable sources insist the prime minister is in "critical condition.” He is in Brussels Belgium clinic. Mills was also absent for same poor health. Why ordinary African civil and public servants have to retire mandatory by age 60 years old but the 54 African Chief Civil servants are not subjected to same rule?