President John Dramani Mahama says he is deeply saddened by the demise of Former Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama.

Speaking from his base in the Brong Ahafo region where he is on a campaign tour, President Mahama paid a glowing tribute to his predecessor describing him as a “a gentleman, a man of decorum," adding "I called him my elder brother.”

Alhaji Aliu Mahama was pronounced dead by the doctors at the Korle-bu Teaching Hospital’s Cardiothoracic Centre at about 09:45GMT on Friday following reports that he had passed earlier.

He was the longest serving Vice President in fourth Republic of Ghana. President Mahama has declared a two-day mourning period in memory of the late former Vice President.

President Mahama said after he visited late Aliu Mahama on his sick bed, he was hopeful that the ailing statesman was going to pull through but he was sad to hear of his demise on Friday Morning.

He has therefore ordered the Chief of Staff to liaise with the family of the late Vice President to ensure that a befitting state burial is organized.

The president expressed his condolences to the family, the former President John Kufuor, and all the leading members of the NPP.

He expected back in Accra to participate in the funeral ceremony.