BY EBUN SESSOU with agency reports
Abuja — The  Ghanaian High Commission, Wednesday, in Abuja lowered its flag at half mast as a mark of respect for the death of President John Atta Mills.

Mills, aged 68, who was elected president in 2009, died on Tuesday while receiving medical treatment at a military hospital, according to a statement from the Ghanaian Presidency.

In accordance with the one-week mourning period declared by Ghana’s government, the High Commission said that it would open a condolence register today.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN,  members of staff of the commission were in a mourning mood as some of them wore black outfits.

Although the commission usually experience low turnout of people seeking consular service, it was deserted following the death of Mills.

Mills was selfless —Ashiru

Mr Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs, told NAN: “President Mills was selfless in serving his people and unswerving in sustaining democracy in Ghana, Nigerians mourn with our brothers and sisters in Ghana.

He said: “His sudden death is a great loss not just to Ghana but to Africa, we shall miss his wise counsel in both ECOWAS and the AU. May his soul rest in peace.”

Ashiru assured the people and government of Ghana that Nigeria would work closely with Mills successor.

ECOWAS condoles with Ghana

Meanwhile, the ECOWAS Commission has said that the death of John Atta Mills, has “robbed the region of a voice of wisdom.”

This is contained in a statement issued by the commission on Wednesday in Abuja, to condole with the people of Ghana.

The statement described Atta Mills as one who “enriched the discussions of the affairs of the community,” adding that the news of his death came as a shock.

It urged the government and people of Ghana to “rise to the challenge of the late President’s death and defend the values that he represented.”

“The community wishes to condole with the government and people of Ghana over this irreparable loss and urge you to rise to the challenge of his death.

“Defend those cherished values that the late president represented and which he sought to introduce to his compatriots such as his love of peace.”

Atta-Mills, a great loss to Africa  —Ikuforiji

In his reaction, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji  said Atta-Mills’ death was a great loss to the entire people of Ghana and Africa in general.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, said: “As one of the best brains to rule over an independent state in Africa from the colonial era to date, it is on record that President Mills was an internationally acclaimed university teacher who impacted positively on the several thousands of university undergraduates and graduate scholars that received legal training under the tutelage of the late president.

“The late President will be greatly remembered as one of the best brains to rule over Ghana, and indeed one transparent, an uncommon visionary, who vigorously attained sustainable economic growth, prosperity and good governance for his country, Ghana.”

Commiserating with the his successor, the speaker said, the new President of Ghana, Mr. John Mahama shared a lot in common with the late President and urged that he should not allow this sad and most unfortunate incident to distract him from continuing with the excellent work that the late President worked so hard to achieve while still alive.

“We at the Lagos State House of Assembly stand firmly by you all the time. It is our prayer that the good Lord grants the new President Mahama and indeed all Ghanians, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss”,  he said further stated.