The residence of former president Jerry Rawlings at Ridge, Accra, has been gutted extensively by fire. The entire house is gutted completely, and according to Kofi Adams, aide to the former president, nothing whatsoever was salvaged from the house. President J.E.A. Mills and some government officials have visited the former president and family to share in their loss. Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and New Patriotic Party presidential candidate in the 2008 elections, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo, have sent the former president and family their commiseration. According to Joy News' Seth Kwame Boateng, the fire may have started around 4:00am. About five fire tenders were engaged in fighting the blaze while scores of military and police personnel cordoned off the area. There are suggestions the fire may have started from the family's living room but it is unclear what started it. It followed a heavy downpour and erractic electricity supply overnight. Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Rawlings and one of her daughters, Yaa Asantewaa, who were in the house, escaped unhurt while the former president Rawlings, was also not in the house. He was reported to have travelled over the weekend to Wume, near Sogakope in the Volta Region where he was involved with an ongoing project to treat residents for various eye ailments at the Sogakope Comboni Hospital. He has since returned to Accra. A number of other high-ranking government officials visited the gutted residence. They include the Chief of Staff; Accra Regional Police Commander; MP and Minister of State at the Presidency, Afotey Agbo; the Accra Mayor and the Minister of Defence as well as some members of the leadership of parlaiment. According to Kofi Adams, alternative accommodation is being sought for the former first couple. Source: Myjoyonline.com