Some chiefs from the Volta region have jumped to the defense of the embattled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Micro and Small Loan Centre (MASLOC), Mrs. Bertha Sogah, saying: "the woman is innocent of the charges leveled against her.’’

The Chiefs and people of three traditional areas in the South Dayi District have expressed displeasure at way the investigation against Mrs. Sogah is being handled, and are calling for an independent external team to investigate Mrs Sogah whiles in office as C.E.O of MASLOC.

The chiefs said: "we believe strongly that, for the purposes of equity and fair hearing, an external investigation team should be constituted to investigate the incident as a matter of urgency and expediency."

They added: "the team must approach its work with fairness within the prescribed terms of reference to be determined.’’

The executive director of MASLOC has been asked to proceed on leave for allegations of conflict of interest in her dealings with a company owned by her husband, Prof. Sogah, while she was chief executive of MASLOC.

Addressing a press conference in Ho, the acting paramount chief of the Kpalime traditional area, Togbui Adza Wiah Kwesi ll.

This was contained in a statement signed together by the three paramount chiefs of Kpalime Torgbui Adza Wiah Kwesi ll, the paramount chief of Tongor, Torgbui Asuo Kwesi V and the paramount chief of Kpeve Togbui Aku Dompeh Xl, they explained that though they are not challenging authorities, their concern was about the credibility of the ongoing investigations.

The release said: "we do not want any citizen of the land to be crucified on the altar of political expediency resulting in the victims hard won reputation being destroyed".

The chiefs were demanding openness and fairness in the probing process, adding that, in the event that their daughter (Mrs Sogah) was not found culpable, she should be reinstated by the same speed as she was asked to proceed on leave.

The chiefs further stated: "as traditional areas, we refuse to accept or believe in the rumors going round that the Mahama government had targeted and is hunting down citizens from the Volta region who hold key positions in government and other para-statals as this may not be one such cases".

"If there should be any iota of truth in these rumors, then the government must quickly reconsider its strategies, re-examine its conscience and subsequent actions that will impact negatively on the level of goodwill it is enjoying particularly in the Volta region and in the Kpalime, Tangor and Kpeve traditional areas," the statement said.