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Tributes have started pouring in for the late Vice President Aliu Mahama who died at 66 years at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor said Alhaji Mahama�s death came as a shock to him. �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 hard to fill. The NPP and the nation have lost a true patriot and unifier. �My heart goes out to his wife, Hajia Ramatu, his 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 rallying call for all members to work hard for victory 2012. �To the rest of the nation, I say let�s close ranks and be guided always by our love of our common humanity,� former President Kufuor said in a statement signed by Frank Agyekum, his spokesperson and special side. NPP Mourns Aliu Mahama The New Patriotic Party (NPP) said it had received the sad news of the death of the former Vice President of the Republic and a stalwart of the NPP, Alhaji Aliu Mahama. The party announced the suspension of all campaign activities, from the national to the constituency level, with immediate effect and would resume after the burial of Alhaji Mahama. �We mourn deeply with the widow, Hajia Ramatu Aliu Mahama, the children and the entire family,� a statement signed by Kwadwo Owusu Afriyie, NPP General Secretary said. The party said the late former Vice President distinguished himself as a two-term Vice President of the Republic of Ghana, from 2001 to 2008. �He singularly held up the party�s fortunes, throughout the country and was well loved by the NPP faithful and his nation. All NPP offices have been asked to fly their flags at half mast in honour of him, until further notice. �May Allah guide us through this grave moment of sadness,� the statement added. Govt President John Mahama also expressed his personal grief at the passing away of former Alhaji Mahama. �President Mahama had a personal relationship with the deceased Vice President which transcended political lines. He was a personal friend of the President and the two had mutual respect for one another,� a statement issued in Accra and signed by James Agyenim-Boateng, a deputy Minister of Information, said. The statement said Alhaji Aliu Mahama would, in recognition of his services to Ghana, be accorded a deserving State burial, in consultation with his family and in accordance with his Islamic faith. All flags had been directed to fly at half-mast, with a declaration of five days of national mourning, the statement added. Abu Sakara The 2012 presidential candidate of the Convention People�s Party, Dr Michael Abu Sakara Foster, also expressed his deepest condolence to the wife and family of Alhaji Aliu Mahama. �I wish to send my deepest condolence to the wife, Hajia Ramatu Mahama and the children, then the entire family of our late former Vice President and also to the people of Ghana. �He served honorably as Vice President of the Republic of Ghana and served the people of the North throughout his entire life,� Dr Abu Sakara said. Ghana, he noted, had lost an illustrious son and the people of the North had lost an asset.