Ghana’s president John Atta Mills dies suddenly

Newswires are reporting Ghana’s President John Atta Mills has died in hospital in the capital of the West African nation, Accra.

A statement from his office said the 68-year-old – who had suffered from throat cancer – 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.

Atta Mills first became president in 2009.

Ghana is Africa’s second largest producer of gold after South Africa.