Thousands of Ghanaians along with visiting dignitaries paid their last respects to the country's late president, John Atta Mills, who died suddenly on July 24.

Ghanaians dressed in red and black lined the streets of Accra Friday as a procession brought Mr. Mills' casket through the capital.

More than a dozen African heads of state along with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attended the funeral at Accra's Independence Square. The service was also broadcast on national television.

Officials have yet to say what caused the death of Mr. Mills, who was 68. Within hours of his death, Vice President John Dramani Mahama took the oath of office, underscoring Ghana's role as one of Africa's most stable democracies.

President Mahama Friday described Mr. Mills as a humble man who brought stability to the country.

“I'm humbled and awed by the legacy that he has left behind as we celebrate President Mills's life and legacy of public service; as we mourn this tremendous loss, let us all pledge to be of service to Ghana not only in word, but in deed, so that our country, our nation, may continue to be the shining star of Africa.”

Mr. Mills was Ghana's third democratically-elected president.

He was elected in a 2008 vote and had been expected to run in December's presidential election.