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Invited government officials, including the Eastern Regional Minister, Victor Smith stayed away from the grand durbar to climax the Akwantukese festival of the chiefs and people of New Juaben in the Eastern region on Saturday and the Omanhene of the traditional area, Daasebre Prof (Emeritus) Oti Boateng is attempting to find answers. Chairs on the official dais were empty when the Omanhene was delivering his welcome address at the function, which took place at the Jackson�s Park in Koforidua. When journalists asked the Omanhene whether he invited the regional minister, he answered in the affirmative but said he would not be in the position to tell why the regional minister and his officials failed to attend the event. Checks by DAILY GUIDE at the Eastern regional co-ordinating council revealed that the regional minister delegated his deputy, Ebenezer Okletey Teilabi to represent him at the function since he was billed to meet catholic bishops in the region around the same time. The press attache to the regional minister, MacKintosh Aidoo told DAILY GUIDE that he had information that the deputy regional minister duly represented the minister, moved to the place around 10am and waited till 12noon but left the place because there was no sign that the festival would be taking place. Daasebre Oti Boateng blamed the situation on a section of the media which reported that the Akwantukese had been cancelled because of security situation at Suhyen, a town in the traditional area. He said there was no such directive by the regional security council for the Akwantukese to be suspended but a section of the media that wanted to play mischief, reported that the celebration had been cancelled. �Despite the negative media report, we have had a successful Akwantukese as all the sub chiefs in the traditional area either graced the occasion themselves or by their representatives while citizens also attended in their numbers,� he said, adding that there were delegations from Juaben in the Ashanti region. He said the negative media reports might have affected the attendance, stressing that the whole Akwantukese was a huge success. �It is regrettable that a small section of New Juaben citizens want to disturb the peace of New Juaben but as Omanhene who had always stood for peace, I will continue to promote peace and the overall development of the traditional area,� he said. He noted that under his leadership, New Juaben had seen tremendous development, stressing that he would continue to foster peace in the traditional area. Daasebre Oti Boateng used the Akwantukese to present awards to some distinguished sons and daughters of New Juaben including some of the sub chiefs. He told the press that he would use the Akwasidae on Sunday to properly address the situation at Suhyen.