Mr. Herbert Mensah, a close ally of former President Jerry John Rawlings, on Wednesday said the nation should mourn the departure of President Mills with respect considering the current difficulty in the economy.

“People should deal with the issue with maximum respect irrespective of what your political affiliations,” Mr. Mensah told the Ghana News Agency.

He said it was also important that the nation looked at the spiritual aspect of the President Mills’ death.

Mr. Mensah said although the country had faced difficulties, Ghanaians had comported themselves, so that the death of President Mills should be a unifying factor to sustain the current peace the country is enjoying.

The demise, he added, would have some impact on the outcome of the upcoming December elections, but did not elaborate how.

President John Evans Atta Mills was confirmed dead by the Chief of Staff Mr. Henry Newman at the 37 Military Hospital on Tuesday in the afternoon.**