Accra, Sept. 7, GNA - The New Juaben Traditional Council has urged all aspirants to various stools in that Traditional Area and their supporters to abide by the laid down customary law and usages to ensure continued peace and prosperity in the area.

The call was made in a statement issued at the end of the Council's meeting held at Koforidua on Friday, September 3, during which members deliberated on issues affecting the area, particularly the Suhyen Chieftaincy Affairs. It was jointly signed by Daasebre Professor Emeritus Oti Boateng, Omanhene and President of the Council and Mrs Eunice Totineh, Registrar.

The statement said it had come to the attention of the Council, that quite recently certain people styling themselves as Kingmakers of the Suhyen Stool had without the consent and concurrence of the Omanhene and Council, purportedly installed and outdoored a Chief as Suhyenhene and Mponuahene of New Juaben Traditional Area.

"The Council has no knowledge whatsoever in the said purported installation and outdooring of any chief in Suhyen which took place recently. In particular, there has not been any customary oath-swearing ceremony before the Omanhene, Paramount Chief of the New Juaben Traditional Area, in the presence of other Wing Chiefs which is an important pre-requisite for anyone to become a chief and exercise his chiefly functions within the traditional area as well as his formal recognition and induction into the Council.

"The Council would like to apprise all and sundry that any person who claims to hail from the appropriate lineage and is a royal, thereby entitled to ascend the Suhyen Stool, can submit himself as a candidate through the established customary law and usages of the New Juaben Traditional Area," it added.

It said: "The Council expressed its disappointment with the conduct of the Police in the purported installation and has decided to submit a special petition to the Inspector General of Police on this very serious issue." The Council reiterated its commitment to the Institution of Chieftaincy and customary law and usages which were recognised by the 1992 Constitution, and would not hamper or hinder the aspirations of any person armed with same who wants to ascend any stool within the New Juaben Traditional Area, provided the traditional requirements laid down by law were adhered to by any heir presumptive.

"We hope that the statement would put to rest the machinations within Suhyen Township in respect of the Suhyen Stool and set the records straight," the statement added.