John Atta Mills is the first Ghanaian head of state to die in office

Accra, July 24 (IANS) Ghanian President John Evans Atta Mills died at a military hospital Tuesday after falling ill, Xinhua reported. Chief of Staff of the Presidency Henry Martey Newman said that President Mills died at 37 Military Hospital in Accra after being rushed there when his health deteriorated. “It is with a heavy heart that we announce the sudden and untimely death of the president of the republic of Ghana,” a statement issued by Newman said. Mills, 68, was inaugurated in January 2009. He returned home June 25 from the US where he had undergone gone a medical check-up. According to BBC News,Mr Mahama, 53, was sworn in several hours after the 68-year-old president died at a hospital in the capital, Accra. Ghana's new President John Dramani Mahama (Former Vice-President) has pledged to uphold stability following the death of his predecessor John Atta Mills. John Atta Mills >Born in western Ghana on 21 July 1944 >Lawyer by profession >Lectured in law for more than 20 years >Vice-president from 1997 to 2001 >Became president in 2009 >Enjoyed swimming and hockey >Married to a marriage counselor