Former President, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings and his wife, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, have expressed regret at news of the passing of President John Evans Atta Mills.

A statement from the office of the former president said "the Office of the Chief of Staff informed President and Mrs. Rawlings of President Mills’ death.

The former president has been an unrepentant critic of the late president's style of leadership, lashing out at him both in Ghana and on international duty at every opportunity.

His wife, Nana Konadu also contested against President Mills in the National Democratic Congress' contest to elect a flagbearer for the December polls.

The Mr. Rawlings met with President Mills a fortnight ago to wish him well as the President was preparing to start launch his campaign.

The statement from the Rawlingses said "the former first couple wishes to express their condolences to the family.

"President and Mrs. Rawlings are in Brazzaville, Congo participating in activities marking the formal launch of Forbes Africa, at the invitation of President Denis Sassou N’Guesso."

According to the statement, President Rawlings will make a formal statement when he returns to Accra.

President Mills served as Vice President under Mr Rawlings between 1997 and 2001 and lost the election in 2000 as the flagbearer of the NDC.

He had a close working relationship with the Rawlingses until he assumed office in 2009.**