Afenyo-Markin Slams Parliamentary Photographer for Capturing His Shoes: 'Do Work Professionally'

• A video of Alexander Afenyo-Markin claiming the parliamentary photographer is politically biased has surfaced online
• The Minority Leader claimed that photographers were often lenient to the MPs on the Majority side and unprofessional towards him
• The video has garnered significant traction on social media as netizens weighed in on Afenyo-Markin's argument about the coverage

The Minority Leader of Ghana's ninth Parliament, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has accused photographers of discharging their duties unprofessionally.

In a video which surfaced on social media on June 4, the Minority Leader was seen addressing the Speaker of Parliament about the matter.

He claimed that the photographers in parliament were often lenient towards his colleagues on the majority side and unprofessional towards him.

"When the majority leader was on his feet, they only focused on him. The cameramen deliberately aim at me when I've taken my legs out... Let your cameramen know that if they want to play politics with the camera, we'll not take kindly to it," Afenyo-Markin complained to Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, the new Clerk of Parliament.

Afenyo-Markin petitioned the Speaker of Parliament to caution the photographers to discharge their duties professionally.

A similar situation happened outside parliament during the Minority Caucus' protest against the detention of the New Patriotic Party's Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, on May 27.

Afenyo Markin's red-bottomed shoes became the talk of the town after the protest as he momentarily took them off to ease the pain.

“I’ll speak about these things; today it may be me, tomorrow it may be you. It's not right... If we do not check some of these things, they will deliberately zoom and spy on what you're reading," Afenyo-Markin argued.

Netizens react to Afenyo Markin's argument

YEN.com.gh gathered a few comments from Ghanaians in reaction to Afenyo-Markin's petition about the photographers in Parliament.

@Dannywalker_gh said:

"When you sit down and critically analyse the situation in parliament, you will realize that the future of the country is in the wrong hands. No conscious effort to solve the problems of the country. Just politics and childish attitudes. Where did we go wrong?"

@dbee_hustler wrote:

"Honestly, if you watch the whole NPP, this is the man that is supposed to be speaking sense into their heads oo cos he’s the only one that looks like a leader but he this hmm."

@AmpofoOscar remarked:

"Same guy walked all the way to EOCO office, removed his shoes and sat on the floor in the full glare of the whole country mmom."

Can the photographer be held accountable for such unprofessional shots?

In democratic societies, journalists and photographers play a vital role in holding power accountable and providing the public with a sense of the immediacy of events taking place, especially in public institutions like Parliament and other government sites. Being able to report on the moment, if upheld in fair principle, encourages transparency and civic engagement, but there is a line drawn through responsibility.

A parliamentary photographer who takes pictures meant to denigrate, mislead or distort context are not just doing their job but are engaged in manipulation. The intention when framing, at selected angles, and catching an official at their worst for partisan use, is something to find ethically unprofessional, if that was indeed their intent.

Not every “unflattering” photo is necessarily unethical. Public officials must submit themselves to scrutiny and candid shots are part of public life. A photographer can only be responsible for having caused harm by demonstrating intent to harm, misrepresent a subject, or violation of the applicable parliamentary procedures and guidelines.

This could lead to disciplinary action or possibly review of accreditation regarding media access-not censorship but ethical enforcement.

The aim should be to find the sweet spot: protect and value press freedom while also valuing integrity with how stories are told and moments are recorded.

Afenyo-Markin strikes meditation pose at protest

Earlier, YEN.com.gh reported that Afenyo Markin unveiled an unfamiliar side of himself during Chairman Wontumi's protest.

He was captured in Padmasana, an ancient style of Indian pose in the art of meditation, reenacting the Gyaan Mudra pose.

The hand gesture Afenyo-Markin performed signifies a divine connection between an individual and the supreme universe.

Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.

Source: YEN.com.gh