President John Mahama is expected to join other world leaders in South Africa for the funeral of the first president of post apartheid South Africa, the late Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela.

Mr. Mahama will fly to Johannesburg from New York where he is delivering the inaugural lecture of the Chinua Achebe Leadership Forum this afternoon. His lecture had to be brought forward by a day to enable him make it to the funeral.

In his tribute to Mandela published by the New York Times, and in interviews with many leading international media houses, President Mahama celebrated the late former President, who he said has taught generations of humanity the importance of forgiveness and compassion.

He described Mandela's death as marking the end of an era of great people like Nkrumah, Kenyatta, Nyerere and other leaders who fought for the liberation of the African Continent.