The Public Procurement Authority (PPA) has declined the request of the Parliamentary Service of Ghana to seek legal services from the external firm Messrs Sory@Law.
According to the PPA, Parliament, as a state institution, should utilize the Attorney General’s Department for all legal matters.
This was stated in a letter dated December 12, 2022, and signed by PPA Chief Executive Officer Frank Mante, in response to Parliament’s request submitted on November 15, 2022.
The letter explained that the PPA Board denied the request due to the single-source procurement method sought for engaging Sory@Law.
“At the 31st Board Meeting of the 5th Board held on Thursday, December 8, 2022, the Board could not approve your request to use the Single Source Procurement Method to engage Messrs Sory@Law as an external solicitor to support Parliament and the Parliamentary Service at a retainer fee of GHS 5,000.00, and a specific fee for the conduct of constitutional cases in the Supreme Court not exceeding GHC 300,000.00,” the PPA’s letter to the Clerk of Parliament said.
“The Board noted that, since the Attorney General is the Principal Legal Advisor, it is the Board’s considered opinion that the Parliamentary Service should continue to use the services of the Attorney General in all legal matters,” the PPA letter to the Clerk of Parliament, Cyril Kwabena Oteng-Nsiah, further stated.
During the 2023/2024 legal year, Sory@Law represented Parliament in various cases and has delivered similar services in the ongoing 2024/2025 legal year.
The latest is the suit involving Alexander Afenyo-Markin against Speaker Bagbin and the Attorney General’s Department, focusing on the interpretation of Articles 97 (1) (g) and (h) related to the seats held by four current members of Parliament.
Meanwhile, the Attorney General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, in court on Wednesday raised concerns over the Speaker’s use of Sory@Law.
Mr. Dame stated that it was improper for the Speaker to use his personal lawyers in the ongoing case.
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Below is the PPA’s letter:
