KAKATA, Margibi – Bitter arguments have ensued among citizens of Margibi after a former president of the Federation of Liberian Youth, Jimmy Sankatuah, questioned the authenticity of Senator Jim Tornonlah’s two doctorate degrees.
Sankatuah, who is now the regional coordinator for Search for Common Ground’s Talking Drum Studio, made the comments when he appeared on Radio Margibi in Kakata.
He said Tornonlah’s degrees were under question because he has not been able to clearly identify the institutions he earned the degrees from.
“The senator is yet to fully disclose the names of the institutions from which he earned his degrees,†Sankatuah said.
He discouraged citizens of Margibi from electing politicians to power based solely on self-proclaimed academic credentials.
James Mychenburg, a journalist in Kakata, said Sankatuah’s comments were met with strong reactions from the Senator’s supporters. Tornonlah, however, has not reacted to the comments.
Mark Nuah, the political officer in Tornonlah’s office said the senator graduated from the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University in 2003 with a degree in theology. Nuah also said that Tornonlah graduated Magna Cum Laude.
Nuah added that Tornonlah earned a master’s degree in theology with emphasis in Christian Counseling on Dec. 18, 2006 from Vision International, an educational network.
Nuah told The Bush Chicken that the Margibi lawmaker also earned a doctorate in philosophy on June 2, 2012 from Vision International in Ivory Coast.
He also refuted claims that Tornonlah has not provided clear information surrounding his academic credentials. He said opponents used the argument as a campaign tool against Tornonlah during the 2014 senatorial election but said they were stifled when the Senator provided clarity about his credentials.
Featured photo by Gbatemah Senah
