I gave MASLOC cash to my husband – CEO

The embattled Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Microfinance and Small Loans Centre (MASLOC), Bertha Ansah-Djan, otherwise known as Bertha Sogah, has openly admitted taking an amount of GHS 500,000 from the accounts of the state-run organisation and handing it over to a private company owned by her husband.

However, Mrs Sogah, who was asked to step aside so that investigations could be conducted into a series of allegations, including conflict of interest, leveled against her, said there was nothing wrong with her husband benefiting from the MASLOC magnanimity.

Amisgold Microfinance Services Limited, owned by her husband, Professor Dotsevi Sogah, was given GHS500, 000 to run its operations.

“It is important to state that the mere existence of a family relationship does not automatically constitute conflict of interest. If this were the case, it would be difficult for the head of any organisation in Ghana to be involved in any decision making in the country because of the existence of interrelations and familial relations among Ghanaians,” the suspended MASLOC boss said in a written response to allegations that she had doled out money to Amisgold.

President Mahama had ordered Mrs Sogah to step aside for investigations to commence into the multiple allegations of fraud, conflict of interest and diversion of funds into her personal bank accounts.

In her lengthy response to the allegations which are being investigated by the National Security apparatus, a copy of which is in the possession of Daily Guide, she parried all the allegations leveled against her as contained in a report.

The report, among other things, alleged that “Madam Bertha Ansah-Djan, took undue advantage of her position as CEO of MASLOC to develop a fraudulent scheme which enabled her to divert monies belonging to MASLOC into her son and husband’s company Amisgold Microfinance Services Ltd, to the tune of Five Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis.

The report further alleged that “the money allowed Amisgold Microfinance Services Ltd to commence operations by giving out loans to its clients.

In her response, Madam Ansah-Djan, as she is fondly known openly admitted, “MASLOC, indeed, placed an amount of GHS500,000 in an investment account with Amisgold Microfinance Services limited.