ACCRA - Ghanaian president John Dramani Mahama paid a tribute to the late Nelson Mandela, saying the former South African leader had created a new moral compass for South Africa and for the entire continent.

Mandela, who served as president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, died at the age of 95 on Thursday, announced the current president Jacob Zuma. The former had battled health problems in recent months, including a recurring lung infection that led to numerous hospitalization.

In his tribute, Mahama briefly retrospected Mandela's fighting for freedom, saying "Freedom on the African continent was a reality for which we were willing to fight." He esteemed Mandela's way of treating his enemies by insisting on forgiveness

Mahama, who came face to face with the Noble prize winner only once, said it was no coincidence that in the years since Mandela's release from prison, so much of Africa has turned toward democracy and the rule of law.

"That night, as I watched Mandela walk past me, I understood that his story, the long walk to freedom, was also Africa's story, " he said.