Proceedings in Parliament took a humorous turn on Tuesday, June 9, when the Member of Parliament for Tolon, Habib Iddrisu, poked fun at Communications Minister Samuel Nartey George over the controversy surrounding the recently criticized ‘Best Ministers’ Awards Scheme.

The light-hearted exchange occurred during deliberations on the weekly Business Statement, which outlines Parliament's agenda for the days ahead.

The awards programme has come under intense scrutiny following allegations that some public officials were expected to pay between GH¢25,000 and GH¢50,000 to be recognised. The controversy prompted President John Dramani Mahama to prohibit government officials from participating in or endorsing such award events.

As debate on the Business Statement progressed, Habib Iddrisu briefly departed from the subject matter and turned his attention to the Ningo-Prampram MP, who was actively engaging colleagues across the chamber.

“Mr Speaker, I don't know why the Minister for Communication and Digital Technology is behaving this way this morning,” the Tolon legislator remarked, drawing laughter and reactions from both sides of the House.

He then jokingly suggested that Sam George's conduct could be linked to the awards controversy, asking whether he had failed to receive an award because he was unwilling or unable to pay for one.

The comments immediately generated amusement in the chamber, prompting First Deputy Speaker Bernard Ahiafor, who was presiding over the sitting, to urge the lawmaker to return to the matter under discussion.

“Honourable Habib, we are considering the Business Statement. Time is far gone,” the Speaker cautioned.

Undeterred, the Tolon MP continued the banter, referencing the alleged GH¢50,000 fee that has featured prominently in public discussions about the awards scheme.

His remarks triggered more laughter among members, while Sam George appeared to take the comments in good spirits.

The presiding Speaker, however, issued a stronger warning and reminded the MP to remain relevant to the business before the House.

Beyond the humour, Habib Iddrisu used the moment to raise concerns about the growing influence of private organisations that rank and evaluate public officials without clear or publicly known assessment criteria.

He questioned the credibility and transparency of such evaluation systems, arguing that public office holders, including Members of Parliament, should not be subjected to ratings based on undisclosed benchmarks.

Although proceedings quickly returned to the scheduled agenda, the exchange became one of the most talked-about moments of the sitting, reflecting the continuing political fallout from the awards controversy and the broader debate over accountability and recognition in public service.