* More than a dozen heads of state attend ceremony
* Mills described as 'unifier' for Ghana
* Smooth transition eases fears of political turmoil
ACCRA, Aug 10 (Reuters) - A sea of Ghanaians clad in
traditional red-and-black mourning cloth paid last respects on
Friday to Ghana's late President John Atta Mills, who died
suddenly after helping transform his nation into one of Africa's
fastest growing economies.
More than a dozen heads of state, mainly from West Africa,
and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton joined thousands of
Mills's mourning countrymen in the seaside capital as his coffin
was carried on a gun carriage followed by wreath bearers.
Some mourners, many of them weeping and holding pictures of
the late president, had gathered before dawn in Accra's
Independence Square to secure a spot for the funeral.
"I saw him some few times during his visits to our region. I
heard him preach peace all the time in his speech. So I wanted
very much to be here to bid him farewell," said 65-year-old
Lawson Nartey, who was dressed in black with a red ribbon around
his neck.
Mills, who had been due to stand for re-election in
December, died suddenly on July 24. The cause of his death has
not yet been disclosed.
Within hours, John Dramani Mahama, Mills's deputy, had been
sworn-in by parliament as his replacement, removing concerns
cover political instability seen elsewhere in Africa following
the death in office of a sitting president.
"This is history, the first time we've lost a president in
office, and I very much wanted to be part of it," said Robert
Ananga, 40, who traveled from the northern city of Bolgatanga,
some 850 km (510 miles) from Accra.
President Mahama, who spoke during the two-hour burial
ceremony marked by Bible readings, prayers and singing,
described Mills as a man who cemented stability in Ghana.
"I am in no doubt that the unifier and the man of peace that
our late president was, in passing on to glory, will be a
catalyst for our country to consolidate the peace and forge
ahead in unity," Mahama said.
During his term, Mills was credited with guiding Ghana's
transformation into the Gulf of Guinea's newest oil exporter,
and overseeing one of Africa's fastest growing economies, which
is already a major cocoa and gold producer.
The ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) party has
saidMahama will be their candidate in elections still planned
for December, with former Central Bank Governor Kwesi
Amissah-Arthur set to be his running mate.
While West Africa has seen a number of coups and contested
votes in recent years, the smooth transition after Mills's death
comes after Ghana was also widely praised for the handling of
the tight election in 2008 that brought Mills to power.
Nana Akufo-Addo, who Mills defeated in the 2008 vote, will
take on Mahama in what is expected to be a close contest.
The swift nomination of Mahama appears to ease some concerns
over a bitter contest within the NDC but analysts have flagged
potential strains on Ghana's economy and the cedi currency of a
year of election-related spending.
(Writing by David Lewis; Editing by Richard Valdmanis and
Michael Roddy)