The building on the compound of the Coconut Groove Regency Hotel at Kanda in Accra has been gutted by fire Saturday, Joy News has gathered.

The fire at one of the properties of business mogul and former minister of state Papa Kwesi Nduom is reported to have started at a section of the hotel that houses the office of the GN bank.

No casualty has been recorded yet but properties running into several thousands of cedis have gone up in flames.

Joy News’ Ridwan Ibrahim Asante reports that officers of the Ghana National Fire Service have been on the scene fighting the thick smoke to douse the inferno.

The cause of the fire which is said to have started around 5:30 pm has not been established yet.

Although it was first reported that the Coconut Groove Regency Hotel has gone up in flames, a press release by the Groupe Nduom Corporate Affairs, Richmond Keelson an hour after the incident clarified it.

He said the "Regency Hotel and its restaurant, guest rooms and conference facilities are intact and were not touched by the fire."

Narrating what happened, he said at about 5.30 pm Saturday afternoon, "a staff of Amansan Telebision (ATV) noticed fire burning apparently from the direction of an air conditioning unit in their studio.

"When alarm, was raised, everyone ran to safety and an urgent call was made to the Ghana Fire Service to come and help put out the fire." 

He said although two fire tenders were dispatched to the hotel it was realised that was not enough to fight the fire so a third team followed.

"It has become apparent after about an hour and a half that the Fire Service personnel have not been able to contain the fire at the studio, he said adding by that time the fire has spread to other offices on the same block as the ATV studio. 

In a related development, the Interior Minister Ambrose Dery has called for an investigation into the incident.