The Bimoba Traditional Council has reaffirmed that succession to a vacant skin must strictly follow customary law, warning that any attempt to bypass the established order of succession risks fuelling disputes, litigation and instability within traditional communities.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, August 4, the Council stressed that the first and most critical step whenever a skin becomes vacant is determining the Royal Gate legally entitled by custom and tradition to occupy the stool before any nomination process begins.
“It is only upon the lawful identification of the entitled Royal Gate that the customary process of nomination may legitimately commence,” the Council stated, adding that only qualified members of that Royal Gate have the customary right to present themselves for consideration.
The Council explained that individuals or families whose Royal Gate is not due to produce a chief have no customary entitlement to contest or seek succession at that time.
Describing the process as the cornerstone of the chieftaincy institution, the Council said adherence to the traditional order of succession preserves the legitimacy, continuity and sanctity of customary leadership while ensuring fairness among the various Royal Gates.
The statement noted that Ghana’s Chieftaincy Act, 2008 (Act 759), as amended, recognises customary law as the governing framework for the succession, nomination, selection and installation of chiefs.
According to the Council, all stakeholders involved in succession processes have a duty to uphold these customary principles “faithfully, impartially, and without deviation.”
The Council, however, expressed concern over what it described as growing departures from these long-established customs. It alleged that in some recent succession processes, competing claims from multiple Royal Gates had been entertained simultaneously instead of first determining the rightful Royal Gate.
It further alleged that such situations were sometimes influenced by “personal advantage, lobbying, financial inducements, or other extraneous considerations.”
“Any attempt to circumvent the lawful order of succession undermines the integrity of the institution of chieftaincy and exposes the entire process to unnecessary disputes, prolonged litigation, and avoidable instability,” the statement warned.
The Council maintained that peace within traditional communities depends on strict adherence to due customary process, arguing that once the rightful Royal Gate has been identified, it should be given the exclusive customary right to nominate eligible candidates.
It said this approach promotes transparency, reduces disputes and strengthens public confidence in the eventual enskinment.
The Council also called on kingmakers, traditional authorities, elders and all stakeholders to discharge their responsibilities with integrity, impartiality and fidelity to customary law.
“Personal gain, external influence, lobbying, financial inducements, or any other improper consideration must never be permitted to supersede the lawful order of customary succession,” it said.
The Council concluded that strict observance of customary law, historical precedent and the provisions of the Chieftaincy Act remains the surest means of protecting the sanctity of the chieftaincy institution, promoting lasting peace and ensuring orderly traditional governance.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
