Accra, Feb.14, GNA - GNA - Former President John Agykum Kufuor on Sunday consoled former President Jerry John Rawlings following the fire that gutted his Ridge residence.

A statement signed by Mr Frank Agyekum, Spokesperson, Office of former President Kufuor, said: "I have learnt of the startling news of the fire outbreak at the residence of former President Jerry John Rawlings which, l understand, caused extensive damage to the property.

"The nation should feel relieved that he and his family escaped unhurt. "This is one fire outbreak too many, coming on the heels of the recent ones at the Tema Oil Refinery, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the offices of the Ghana Education Service at Tudu, the Makola and Asafo markets in Accra and Kumasi respectively.

"I hope the security agencies will take immediate steps to get to the bottom of what happened last night and put in appropriate measures to forestall its recurrence anywhere else." The fire which started at about 0430 hours on Sunday destroyed razed down the house, a colonial bungalow which the Rawlingses have occupied since the early 1980s.