Just a few weeks ago we received great news about how UK-based Ghanaian and international gospel musician, Sonnie Badu received three major honors in New York including Doctor of Divinity by CICA International University & Seminary and UN Ambassador CDSE (Commander of most Distinguished Order of Special Envoy expert in the field of sacred music).
GospelGh reported how now Dr. Sonnie Badu poured out his heart felt praise to God on his Instagram page and the number of testimonies he shared with the three acknowledgements.
Well, it seems not everyone was so enthused about the news and it had people go digging into the authenticity of the said awards Sonnie had been honored with.
Starting from rumors that the “Wonder God” hit maker had ‘bought’ the awards, it grew into a whole research about the authenticity of Sonnie’s doctorate award.
Mr. Prosper Yao Tsikata also a P.h.D holder on 12th June took to Facebook to seemingly expose his findings on how Sonnie’s doctorate was “phony”.
In his statement, Dr. Prosper said,
“For the United Nations (UN) ambassadorship, after several calls and emails to the UN headquarters in New York City and the UN’s Ghana office, it emerged that the UN doesn’t have any honors by name UN Ambassador of Sacred Music. According to Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, “the title mentioned in the links you have sent, of ‘UN Ambassador CMSE,’ does not exist in the UN system. The UN does not confer any doctorates in music or designate ambassadors in ‘celestial music.’” Clearly, if the United Nations, commonly referred to as the UN, is what Sonnie Badu and his benefactors and their accomplices referenced in their award, then this borders on not just public deception, but it also smacks of criminality. Thus, we would expect the UN to take action on this matter to protect its image”
He added that,
“If Sonnie Badu has become so big that he could be awarded UN Ambassador of Music, Honorary Doctorate, and the Keys to the City of Brooklyn all at the same time, one would expect the musician to have astute media managers who should have done their homework well in ensuring that scammers do not deceptively lure the music prodigy into any phony awards, particularly with the issue of phony and questionable honorary and earned doctorates still fresh on the minds of Ghanaians.”
[ClICK HERE TO READ FULL POST by Prosper Yao Tsikata ON FACEBOOK]
Now if you are someone who knows Sonnie Badu well, then you surely know that this claim/ attack on his personality was defiantly not going to be left un-responded to.
Well yes, Sonnie did respond to Dr. Prosper’s claim and in a quite unconventional way for him though.
So Dr. Sonnie Badu replied right under Dr. Prosper Yao Tsikata‘s Facebook post.
In his reply, Sonnie said
Am I to assume from your address that you, in conjunction with the University is researching into my so called ‘phony’ award as you put it? Now, thank God I did not receive this anywhere in Africa and even if I did, I would be so grateful for that honor bestowed upon me. After sending us an email, did you not think it was appropriate to receive a reply from us before you went ahead to release your ‘supposed researched findings’? But no, you went ahead to release on social media and websites “Sonnie Badu’s award is phony”. This is no surpise to me and in any case what has my supposed ‘phony’ award as you call it got to do with my life story of my former girlfriend?
He went on, saying,
Sir, I know you worked hard for your PHD in communication (congratulations) and so you expect everyone to equally work hard. Well, I am so sorry to break your heart !! I walk with something called divine favor. If you go to church, you will hear your pastor preach about it. When favor finds you, it gives you in a year what others have worked for 7 years for and I pray for you to experience it. it’s a good thing, so in your view , you probably worked extremely hard to achieve your PHD which is good. I cannot speak for the other gentleman but I advice you respect my honouree award and stop insulting me and my team. My doctorate came from God’s headquarters of favour. I am so so happy with the honour because my children will have something to look up to. I have been in ministry for over 20 years and And worked excessively hard guess and I heavens gave me these 3 great honors .. Amazingly on that day in New York 99 percent of the crowd were from Haiti, …..meaning I was honored before strangers..
[READ FULL REPLY BY SONNIE BADU BELOW THE STORY]
Sonnie went on to post screenshots of emails, documents and certificates to back his defence.
Now the body that honored Sonnie, Word of Life Christian Fellowship has also come out to explain suggestions going round that the United Nation (UN) appointed Sonnie Badu as an ambassador are incorrect.
According to the Church, based in New York, they honored Sonnie with the UN ambassadorial appointment due to their relationship with the intergovernmental organisation.
Dr. Phillip S. Phinn, President General and Chancellor of the church & CICA International University & Seminary, said the public got it all wrong. According to him, Word of Life Christian Fellowship has been in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for over 20 years.
Due to this, it “has established its own strata of awards for its representatives/ambassadors to the United Nations and those holding At-Large positions.” Dr. Phinn explained that, “One such award is the Commander of the Most Distinguish Order of Special Envoy (CDSE). This was the honor bestowed upon our recent appointed UN Ambassador Dr. Sonnie Badu.”
[SEE THE FULL PRESS RELEASE BELOW THE STORY]
As of now, it is quite unclear how the issue will end but Sonnie has given hint of a possible law suite as he indicated saying “Now sir, you are free to write whatever you feel like writing , however your choice of words is what I am extremely disappointed in and my lawyers are not taking this lightly. So kindly prove to us what you mean by phony, criminality and fraudulent otherwise sir it will not look good for you ..
now sir or Dr.,”
By: Cwesi Ofori
(GospelGh)
- FULL POST BY Prosper Yao Tsikata
2. FULL REPLY FROM SONIE BADU
3. FULL PRESS RELEEASE FROM Word of Life Christian Fellowship & CICA International University & Seminary
This letter serves to make clear the honors that were conferred on Dr. Sonnie Badu on April, 30th, 2017 by Word of Life Christian Fellowship & CICA International University & Seminary respectively.
Word of Life Christian Fellowship is the only full gospel organization that is in Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) for over 20 years and has established its own strata of awards for its representatives/ambassadors to the United Nations and those holding At-Large positions.
One such award is the Commander of the Most Distinguish Order of Special Envoy (CDSE).
This was the honor bestowed upon our recent appointed UN Ambassador Dr. Sonnie Badu.
Dr. Badu will be assigned to the UN office in Geneva and will start his tour of duty in January of 2018.
Perhaps the media reported that Dr. Badu was given this award by the United Nations which was incorrect; it was given by Word of Life Christian Fellowship, a UN accredited NGO, and we also appointed him as one of our Distinguish Ambassadors At-Large and to the UN office in Geneva.
On the matter of the Honorary Doctorate that was given to Sonnie Badu, we wish to refute the idea that our University & Seminary does not have the legal authority to give a minister of the gospel, especially someone in the standing of Dr. Badu.
Enclosed please find two letters from the government of state of Florida which serve to verify our LEGAL position.
Dr. Sonnie Badu has exceeded the requirements by the University & Seminary for such an honor (Honorary Doctorate of Divinity degree), as he has been a gospel minister in excess of ten years.
The truth will prevail and those of you who know Dr. Sonnie Badu can truly testify that he is a man of substance, honest and God fearing.
God Bless,
Yours Sincerely,
H.E. Rt. Hon. Dr. Phillip S. Phinn, OEA, D-C.P.C.
President General/ Chancellor of
Word of Life Christian Fellowship & CICA International University & Seminary respectively.
