The inferno that engulfed Amansan Television (ATV) (located within the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel premises) yesterday was caused by a faulty air conditioning unit, owners of the facility have said.
Portions of the facility owned by business mogul and 2016 Presidential candidate of the Progressive People’s Party, Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom through his Groupe Nduom conglomerate was razed down by fire on Saturday evening.
Initial reports indicated that the Coconut Grove Regency Hotel had suffered a lot of damage from the fire, however, a statement issued by Groupe Nduom Corporate Affairs has assured that “the Regency Hotel and its restaurant, guest rooms and conference facilities are intact and were not touched by the fire”.
“Somewhere between 5.00 and 5.30pm this afternoon, staff of Amansan Television (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. Two fire tenders came soon followed by three more,” said the statement signed by Richmond Keelson of the Groupe Nduom Corporate Affairs department.
The statement added that the ATV studio and four commercial offices of Groupe Nduom which are on the same block were damaged after the Fire Service personnel were unable to control the blaze which started at the TV studio.
Watch a video from the scene of yesterday’s fire below;
“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. Now the fire has spread to other offices on the same block as the ATV studio. The ATV studio and four commercial offices of Groupe Nduom are on the same block.
“It is important to note that the Regency Hotel and its restaurant, guest rooms and conference facilities are intact and were not touched by the fire. We will keep the public informed with further developments as they occur”.
The Ghana National Fire Service is yet to determine the cause of the fire after quenching the blaze late last night.
Prince Billy Anaglatey, the Deputy Public Relations Officer of the GNFS told the media that a total of 13 tenders were deployed to contain the fire and no casualties were recorded.
He also denied claims that the tenders that arrived at the scene without water.
Below is the entire Groupe Nduom Corporate Affairs statement
Somewhere between 5.00 and 5.30pm this afternoon, staff of Amansan Television (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. Two fire tenders came soon followed by three more. 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. Now the fire has spread to other offices on the same block as the ATV studio. The ATV studio and four commercial offices of Groupe Nduom are on the same block.
It is important to note that the Regency Hotel and its restaurant, guest rooms and conference facilities are intact and were not touched by the fire.
We will keep the public informed with further developments as they occur.
Richmond Keelson
Groupe Nduom Corporate Affairs
