Ghana Bids Attah Mills farewell......

The Ghanians are mourning right now over the loss of their beloved Late president John Attah Mills who passed July 24.

Ghanaians in black traditional garb and shirts bearing images of late president John Atta Mills filed through a hall where his body lay in state at the start of three days of funeral rites Wednesday.

The funeral service and burial are set for Friday and will be attended by a list of foreign dignitaries, including US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

"His death is a great loss that will be difficult to replace," said George Jubo, a Methodist reverend who was waiting to pay his last respects. "A man of peace is gone."

Tributes are expected on both Wednesday and Thursday evenings, including music and speeches.

Some 16 heads of state in addition to other foreign dignitaries, including Clinton, are expected at Friday's burial service, according to the chairman of the funeral committee Kofi Totobi-Quakyi. Clinton is currently on an African tour.

Mills, the first Ghanaian president to die in office, is to be buried on the grounds of the seat of government at Osu Castle in Accra.

The seaside capital is awash with tributes to Mills, who was widely praised for his integrity, including billboards saying "we shall always remember you."

Residents wore black and red bands and scarfs as symbols of their grief.

"The outpourings of emotions on the death of our president show that we Ghanaians are united in our collective sense of loss," Totobi-Quakyie said.

Accra police chief Patrick Timbillah said heavy security would be in place for the funeral, with major roads cordoned off.

Totobi-Quakyi said the family will hold a private service in Mills' place of birth on Sunday in the of Ekumfi Otuam.

Ghana is seen as a bastion of democracy in the often turbulent West African region, and the transition so far has gone smoothly.