An intellectual clash unfolded on the January 8, 2025, episode of Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana program when Kwesi Pratt Jnr., Managing Editor of The Insight newspaper, and Abdul Malik Kweku Baako Jnr., Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide, shared opposing views on military takeovers across the African continent and Ghana.

The debate between the two distinguished media personalities stemmed from Kwesi Pratt’s admiration of the loud cheers that erupted from the crowd at Black Star Square during President John Dramani Mahama’s investiture on January 7.

This occurred when the military leader of Burkina Faso, Ibrahim Traore, was introduced moments before stepping onto the podium to exchange pleasantries with Mahama.

Reacting to the moment, which has since sparked widespread conversation among Ghanaians, Kwesi Pratt described it as a public endorsement of military leadership over democratically elected leaders. He pointed out that the military leader received the loudest applause from the crowd compared to the other democratically elected leaders who attended the event.

Kwesi Pratt explained that the loud cheers in response to Traore’s presence spoke volumes, emphasising that it represented a public endorsement of military coup d’etats and the opposition to various issues plaguing many African countries.

He specifically highlighted concerns such as neo-colonialism, the struggle for Africans to gain control over their own resources for their benefit, among other challenges.

He was however, sharply interjected by Kweku Baako whose opinion opposed military takeovers.

Expressing his strong disapproval of military takeovers, Kweku Baako argued that such actions have not brought any positive benefits to the continent, citing how past military leaders who assumed power often turned into dictators.

He emphasised that this is precisely why past leaders fought to restore constitutional order, ensuring that leaders are democratically elected.

Read excerpts of their conversation below:

Kwesi Pratt: Something very significant happened at the Black Star Square. The Head of State who had the largest applause, and the most emphatic display of public enthusiasm was Ibrahim Traore. That should say something. The public endorsement as far as I’m concerned…..

Kweku Baako: We have seen it all before. I am very cynical and skeptical about these characters. You’ve seen it all, so please ........

Kwesi Pratt: No problem but for the moment yesterday, all the so called democratically elected leaders did not get the kind of endorsement Ibrahim Traore got at the Independence Square and that is a statement.

Kweku Baako: I’m struggling to get the logic of your point. What is it? what was the Ghanaian community who were the majority at the place endorsing?

Kwesi Pratt: They were endorsing the struggle against neo-colonialism, they were endorsing a struggle for African people to take hold of their resources and to exploit it for their own benefits, endorsing a regime that is saying no to foreign military base on African soil. Democracy must yield something that people wants…

Discussing Ibrahim Traoré & more: Kwesi Pratt & Kweku Baako clash on the 'justification' of coup d'etats #GoodMorningGhana #MetroTV pic.twitter.com/BXFQCnwKZA

— Metro TV Ghana (@metrotvgh) January 8, 2025