FLASHBACK: How the international media reported Professor Mills' death

The 3rd President of Ghana’s 4th Republic, Professor John Evans Atta Mills, died exactly 12 years ago today, July 24, 2024.

Mills was the first president in the history of Ghana to die while in office, and his death sent shock waves throughout Ghana, the African continent, and the world.

The late former president, who was three and a half years into his presidency, having been elected into office in 2009, died at the age of 68. His death was widely reported by major international media houses, who described the tragedy that had befallen Ghana and the West African sub-region.

Here is how the international media reported his death:

VOA

Ghana's President John Atta Mills Dead at 68

DAKAR — Ghana's president, John Atta Mills, died Tuesday at a military hospital in Accra shortly after falling ill. Officials did not give a cause of death. Vice President John Dramani Mahama was sworn in to finish Mills' term.

President John Atta Mills died five months short of finishing his first term in office and only days after celebrating his 68th birthday. He was set to run for a second term in elections planned for December 7. His death has taken the nation by surprise.

Shopkeeper Teresa Ayerakwo closed her shop early on Tuesday. "In fact, today I am sad. I won't eat today. Never. My husband is dead, but today's death is very, very painful for me. He is a Christian. He was nice to everybody, how he spoke, he's very gentle, you see, and he cared for us. I don't think I can vote again. Never. Very painful for me," she said.

The Washington Post

Ghanaian President John Atta Mills dies at 68

Ghanaian President John Atta Mills vowed to help spread the wealth from Ghana’s newly discovered offshore oil fields, but his death on July 24 came before the 68-year-old could finish his first term in this West African nation long held up as a model of democracy.

Ghanaian state-run television stations broke into their regular programming to announce the president's death. Chief of Staff John Henry Martey Newman told the nation that Mr. Mills died at a military hospital in the capital, Accra. No details were provided about the cause of death, but some news accounts said he had throat cancer. Vice President John Mahama was sworn in Tuesday to complete the last 5 1/2 months of Mr. Mills's term.

Chris Fomunyoh, the senior director for Africa for the Washington-based National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, said that Ghana’s democracy could weather the death of a president.

In other nations in West Africa, the death of a ruler usually spells a coup, as it did in Guinea after the 2008 death of longtime dictator Lansana Conte, and Togo, where the military seized power after the president’s death in 2005 to install his son.

France 24

President John Atta Mills dies suddenly at 68

Ghana’s President John Atta Mills died suddenly Tuesday at the age of 68, just hours after falling ill, a statement from the presidential office said. Atta Mills was nominated by the ruling party to run for re-election in December.

AFP - Ghana President John Atta Mills died suddenly on Tuesday at the age of 68, hours after being taken ill and months before a vote in which he was to seek re-election, his office said.

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the republic of Ghana," the statement said, adding that Mills, who had travelled recently abroad for a medical check-up, died hours after he got sick.

He died in a hospital in the capital Accra, his office said, without providing a cause.

The Guardian

Ghanaian president John Evans Atta Mills dies, aged 68

Ghana's president, John Evans Atta Mills, has died suddenly, aged 68.

Mills, who was only months away from completing his first term in office, cancelled meetings and was taken to hospital at midday on Tuesday suffering from an unspecified illness.

A statement from the president's office, signed by the chief of staff, confirmed his death several hours later, after growing speculation and a near communications blackout in the capital city, Accra.

"It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the republic of Ghana," the statement said.

The announcement prompted an outpouring of grief as people across the political divide united in paying their respects. "This is our president who has died in office, we join all Ghanaians in mourning, we send our deepest condolences to his wife and family," said Jake Obetsebi Lamptey, the chairman of the opposition New Patriotic Party. "As a mark of respect, the party is suspending all its activities."

MPs were summoned to Ghana's parliament house to swear in John Dramani Mahama, the former vice president, and given reassurances that the death of Mills would not spark a constitutional crisis. No president has ever died in office in the history of Ghana, which gained independence from Britain in 1957.

Mahama, who made an emotional speech describing Mills as a "father, friend, mentor and … senior comrade", said that the country was "deeply saddened and distraught" and declared one week of mourning in Ghana.

News of the president's death follows weeks of rumours about his health, prompted by a decline in public appearances and a medical trip to the US, which he insisted was for a routine check-up.

Aljazeera

Ghana president John Atta Mills dies

John Atta Mills, Ghana’s president, has died a few hours after being taken ill, a statement from the president’s office and officials said.

Mills, 68, died on Tuesday in the capital Accra and has been succeeded by Vice-President John Dramani Mahama, who took the presidential oath hours after the death was announced.

The swift adherence to Ghana’s constitution on succession underlines the country’s reputation as one of the most mature democracies in the region, said commentators.

‘Untimely death’

“It is with a heavy heart… that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana,” a statement sent to the Reuters news agency by the president’s office said.

Mills, who had celebrated his 68th birthday last Saturday, had won international praise as leader of a stable model democracy in Africa.

The unexpected death of the leader of the world’s second-largest producer of cocoa comes months before he was due to stand for re-election in December.

Ghana, also a major African gold producer, started pumping oil in 2010 and posted double-digit growth in 2011.

The president’s office said that Mills died a few hours after being taken ill, but no further details were given.

A presidential aide, who asked not to be named, said the president had complained of pains on Monday evening and died early Tuesday afternoon when his condition worsened.

Mills had returned from medical checks in the United States a few weeks ago.

BBC

Ghana's President John Atta Mills dies

Ghana's President John Atta Mills, who was suffering from throat cancer, has died in hospital in the capital, Accra.

A statement from his office said the 68-year-old died a few hours after being taken ill, but did not give details.

John Dramani Mahama, his vice-president, has been sworn in as his replacement in a ceremony in the capital.

Mr Atta Mills had ruled the West African country since 2009.

"It is with a heavy heart... that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the Republic of Ghana," the president's office statement said.

He died in a hospital in Accra on Tuesday afternoon while receiving treatment, his office said.

While Mr Atta Mills' illness had always been a subject of great debate, it was never officially confirmed, correspondents say. He had always insisted he was well, and planned to seek re-election in December's poll.

BAI/NOQ

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