I will miss Aliu Mahama dearly – Kufuor

Former President John Agyekum Kufuor has expressed deep shock and sorrow over the passing of his friend and former Vice-President Alhaji Aliu Mahama at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital on Friday.

This was contained in a statement on Friday signed by Mr. Frank Agyekum, Spokesman and Special Aide to the former President and copied to the Ghana News Agency.

The statement said former President Kufuor had visited Alhaji Aliu Mahama while on admission at the hospital and was hopeful of his early recovery.

It stated that the former President described his former second-in-command as “a diligent worker, a gentleman and a friend whom I will miss dearly”.

“Aliu contributed significantly to the success of my government and was a pillar of strength in the New Patriotic Party. The void he has left will be too hard to fill. The NPP and the nation have lost a true patriot and unifier,” the statement said.

The former President said: “My heart goes out to his widow, Hajia Rahmatu, children and the entire family. I pray that they remain strong in these very trying times.”

“I join the entire NPP family to mourn this great stalwart of our tradition and hope that his demise will serve as a rallying call for all members to work hard for victory 2012,” he said.

“To the rest of the nation, I say lets close ranks and be guided always by our love of our common humanity,” the statement added.

Source: GNA