Afenyo-Markin attacks parliamentary camera crew for zooming in on his shoe

The incident happened during an extended session of Parliament, where members were debating the controversial 2025 Energy Sector Levy, presented under a certificate of urgency.

Raising the issue before the Speaker, Mr. Alexander Afenyo-Markin, expressed his displeasure over what he called “targeted and unprofessional” filming by the camera team. He accused them of deliberately zooming in on his feet during the session, supposedly to embarrass or mock him for temporarily removing his shoe due to discomfort.

“Mr Speaker, if a cameraman deliberately films the moment when I have taken my leg out of my shoe, to play politics with a camera, we will not take kindly to it,” he said.

He compared the treatment he received to that of the Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga. According to Afenyo-Markin, when Ayariga was addressing the House, the camera focused only on his torso, presenting a dignified image. However, when he, the Minority Leader, was speaking, the camera shifted attention to his lower body, highlighting the moment he had removed his shoe.

“I had momentarily taken my leg out of my shoe because I was in pain, then he zoomed the camera down to capture it,” he added.

Afenyo-Markin questioned the inconsistency in camera angles and alleged that the conduct was a deliberate attempt to politicise the moment.

“If they are now focusing on our legs, why is it that when they go to the Majority Leader, they only focus on the upper part of his body? If the cameraman is engaging in partisan politics, then he must be cautioned,” he said.

The Minority Leader maintained that his comments were not personal attacks but rather a principled call for fairness and professionalism within Parliament’s operations.

“Mr Speaker, I will speak on some of these things because today it may be me but tomorrow it may be you. It is not right. I was in pain, so, I removed my leg from my shoe. How come when I’m debating, you decide to only zoom down at my feet?” he asked.

“They must be told that they should do their work professionally. Mr Speaker, I am saying this; nobody should take it personal. Nobody should hold the fort for them. Tomorrow, it will be you. As for me, I will speak on some of these things. If you think you want to support them, one day they will focus on you. So, let us stop them. It is not right that when you are zooming a camera in the chamber, you go and target the Leader’s shoe,” he added.

His remarks were made during deliberations on the Energy Sector Levy Amendment Bill, introduced by Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson.

The bill proposes a GH¢1 levy per litre of fuel, with the stated aim of raising funds to address mounting debts in the energy sector and to improve Ghana’s power supply infrastructure.