Accra, April 27, GNA - A fire outbreak at the Accra Shopping Mall under construction on the Spintex Road in Accra on Friday morning disrupted work but there were no casualties.

The fire occurred at the south-western part of the premises being occupied by Shoprite, a South African company.

Mr Gilford Tetteh Adom, District Fire Officer at the Headquarters of the Ghana National Fire Service, said it took 45 minutes to bring the fire under control.

He said their investigations showed that the fire was caused by gas welding in the premises of Shoprite.

"At the time Fire Service personnel got to the premises there was a thick smoke. The place where the fire occurred was an enclosed area and ventilation in the premises was very bad for personnel to work." Mr Adom said three people, one Fire Service personnel and two workers at the construction site, who were affected by the smoke, were sent to hospital.

"The Fire Service personnel were able to bring the fire under control within 45 minutes. We have advised the owners and management not to resume work because of the intensity of the smoke until the next day," Mr Adom said.

Mr Joseph Owusu Akyaw, Executive Chairman of the Intercity Hotels, owners of the mall, said the fire occurred around 1150 hours. "We noticed thick smoke coming out from the western wing of the Accra Shopping Mall and upon immediate investigations we noted that fire had broken out at the western corner of the premises." Mr Mungisi Tshangala, Project Manager, said workers were safe and work had resumed in earnest.