According to reports coming in from Reuters, Ghana's President John Atta Mills has died. This info is coming from a statement sent by the president's office to Reuters today 24 July 2012.

"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.

It said the president, 68, died a few hours after being taken ill but no further details were given.

The statement signed by the Chief of Staff to the president, Mr John Henry Newman, also revealed that Mr Mills passed away at the 37 Military Hospital.

Mr Mills was inaugurated as Ghana’s leader on the platform of National Democratic Congress (NDC) on 7 January 2009, defeating the ruling party’s candidate, Nana Akufo-Addo in the 2008 election.

He served as Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry Rawlings.