President John Mahama has revealed that US experts' investigations into market fires have established that the Makola Market fire was caused by illegal electrical connection but that of the Kumasi market was inconclusive.

"The Kumasi one was inconclusive because by the time they got there people had gone in and destroyed much of the evidence and so they could not find anything conccrete. With regards to the Makola to traced the source of the fire to an electrical problem", he said.

President Mahama made the revelation when Nana Oye Lithur, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection led leaders of  market fire victims in the Greater Accra Region to call on him at the Flagstaff House, Kanda.

He added that reports on all other fires were also inconclusive.

This is the first time contents of the report has been made public since it was ready last October. Deputy Interior Minister, James Agalga had earlier insisted the contents of the forensic report was not for public consumption because it had security implications.

President Mahama, in the heat of constant news report about the market fires earlier this year, had suggested arsonist could be behind the crisis.

Four persons were subsequently arrested for prosecution for the market infernos.

American experts were invited to support the Ghana Fire Service help unravel the mystery surrounding numerous fire outbreaks in the country.

The whole of the Kantamanto Market and parts of the Makola  Number Two and Konkomba markets in Accra burnt down, while parts of the Kumasi Central Market were among many places gutted by fire this year.

The leaders of the market fire victims were at the Flagstaff House to thank President Mahama for supporting them with GH¢ 2 million to re-capitalise their businesses after the fires ravaged their shops.

In line with recommendations contained in the report, President Mahama said the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development would soon come out with a standard way of constructing modern markets throughout the country to avoid the mishap.

He said under the standardised constructions, there would be schools, health centres, police and fire stations that would be battle-ready to stem any eventuality.

President Mahama said although the investigations into the cause of the fires at all the affected markets were not conclusive, it was clearly established by both local and American investigators that the Makola market fire was caused by electrical deficiencies.

Nana Oye Lithur, said a total of 7,831 traders representing about 90 per cent of the victims had received their share of the relief from government and the remaining 10 per cent are still smoothening their banking procedures before receiving theirs.

She said apart from the financial assistance, government is educating the traders to enter into insurance policies that would serve as a protection to their businesses in times of disaster.

Mr Opoku Afreh, leader of the Kantamanto Used Clothing Sellers Association commended President Mahama for initiating the relief, describing him as the first President in the history of the country to have established such a fund for traders.

On pirated Ghanaian textiles

President Mahama promised to seal all the loopholes at the country’s entry-points to protect the industry and jobs of so many Ghanaians that are  dependent on the fabrics for their livelihood.

He blamed the current trend on designers who leak out the designs of the local textiles to their foreign collaborators to reprint cheaper fabrics into the country and promised to lead the crusade against the practice.

Madam Rosemary Laryea, Public Relations Officer of the traders appealed to government to tighten security at the country’s borders to prevent the smuggling of cheaper goods into the Ghanaian markets.