Phyllis Christian
{{short description|Ghanaian lawyer and consultant (born 1956)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Phyllis Christian
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_name = Phyllis Maria Christian
| birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1956}}
| birth_place = Ghana
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Ghanaian
| parents = Howard Christian;
Sarah Christian née Grant
| relatives = George Alfred Grant (grandfather)Phyllis M. Christian, [https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/the-sacrifices-men-make-a-memorial-to-george-alfred-grant.html "The sacrifices men make – A memorial to George Alfred Grant"], Graphic Online, 30 October 2017.
Clara Marguerite Christian (aunt)
Essi Matilda Forster (aunt)
Margaret Busby (cousin)
Moira Stuart (cousin)
| other_names =
| alma_mater = University of Ghana;
Ghana School of Law
| occupation = Lawyer, consultant
| years_active =
| known_for = CEO ShawbellConsulting
| notable_works =
}}
Phyllis M. Christian (born 1956) is a Ghanaian lawyer and consultant who has been called "one of the most influential women in Ghana".Paul Adom-Otchere, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LfFrnTjowA "Exclusive interview with Phyllis Maria Christian; founder Shawbell Consulting"] (video), 23 June 2016. A lawyer by training (the fourth generation of her family to enter the legal profession), she is also the founder, chief executive officer and managing consultant of ShawbellConsulting, based in Accra.[http://www.shawbellconsulting.com/about.php "About Us"], ShawbellConsulting.[http://whoswholegal.com/firms/13863/office/18755/shawbell-consulting/ "Shawbell Consulting"], Who's Who Legal, Law Business Research.[http://thebftonline.com/companies/17041/shawbell-consulting-to-leverage-on-expertise-ceo.html "Shawbell-Consulting to leverage on expertise -- CEO"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708142625/http://thebftonline.com//companies/17041/shawbell-consulting-to-leverage-on-expertise-ceo.html |date=8 July 2017 }}, B&FT Online, 24 January 2016. Her maternal grandfather George Alfred Grant, popularly known as Paa Grant, was one of the founding fathers of Ghana.
Background
=Education and early career=
Phyllis Maria Christian was born in Ghana, the elder daughter of high court lawyer Howard J. Christian and his wife Sarah (née Grant, whose father Paa Grant was the founding president of the United Gold Coast Convention, which fought for Ghanaian independence),Sarah Esi Grant-Acquah, [http://www.ghanaculture.gov.gh/index1.php?linkid=338&archiveid=549&page=1&adate=14/02/2007 "In the beginning was…PAA GRANT – And the UGCC"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181031133034/http://www.ghanaculture.gov.gh/index1.php?linkid=338&archiveid=549&page=1&adate=14%2F02%2F2007 |date=31 October 2018 }}. From Daily Graphic, 14 February 2007, via National Commission on Culture. and the fourth of her parents' five children.[http://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/bentsifi-s-tattle-a-guy-about-town-10.html "Bentsifi’s Tattle: A guy about town | 60th birthday bash"], Graphic Online, 15 April 2016. Her father was the son of Dominica-born barrister George James Christian (1869–1940).Paul Adamson, [https://books.google.com/books?id=mcq8tRF1oNsC&q=%22howard+christian%22+%25George+james+christian%22+gold+coast&pg=PA56 Still None the Wiser: A Mid-Century Passage, 1952–1967], AuthorHouse, 2007, footnote p. 56. She was educated at Holy Child School in Cape Coast (1967–74), and from 1974 to 1977 at the University of Ghana, Legon.[http://admission.ug.edu.gh/docs/AdmissionProspectus2012-2013(part1).pdf "Some notable alumni"], Admission Prospectus, University of Ghana, p. 32. She received a degree in English Literature and Philosophy, and went on to postgraduate studies in law at the University of Ghana (1979) and a postgraduate degree in International Law & Business from the City University of London (1981), obtaining professional qualification from the Ghana School of Law in 1981.{{cite web|url=https://cdn.ghanafa.org/2019/12/GFA-INDEPENDENT-COMMITTEES-GFA-Ethics-Committee.pdf|title=Ethics Committee {{!}} PHYLLIS CHRISTIAN, ESQ (Chairperson)|publisher=Ghana Football Association|access-date=15 November 2024}}
=ShawbellConsulting=
In June 2002, Christian founded ShawbellConsulting,David Adadevoh, [http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/shawbell-consulting-optimistic-about-business-prospects/ "Shawbell-Consulting optimistic about business prospects"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005920/http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/shawbell-consulting-optimistic-about-business-prospects/ |date=6 December 2017 }}, The Ghanaian Times, 21 January 2016. an Accra-based company providing legal and management consultancy services. In her role as chief executive officer, Christian (whose specialist practice areas are Corporate and Energy)[http://whoswholegal.com/profiles/61719/0/christian/phyllis-m-christian/ "Phyllis M Christian"], Who's Who Legal, Law Business Research. has led the company to win a number of awards, being adjudged best law consulting firm of the year at the Offshore Ghana Oil and Gas Awards in 2014–15, among other accolades.[http://citibusinessnews.com/index.php/2016/11/07/48-companies-honored-for-contribution-to-oil-and-gas/ "48 companies honored for contribution to oil and gas"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180705172557/http://citibusinessnews.com/index.php/2016/11/07/48-companies-honored-for-contribution-to-oil-and-gas/ |date=5 July 2018 }}, CitiBusinessNews, 7 November 2016.
=Other activities=
As an advocate of incentives for indigenous firms, Christian has written for such outlets as the Daily Graphic,Phyllis M. Christian, [https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/world-class-indigenous-consultancy-firms-no-paradox.html "World-class indigenous consultancy firms — No paradox"], Graphic Online, 1 February 2018. and endorses plans for legislation "to require that at least 70 per cent of all government, taxpayer-financed contracts and procurements be executed by local corporate entities" and a policy requiring a specified percentage be sourced "from entities owned by women, persons with disability, and those established under the Youth Enterprise Fund".David Adadevoh, [http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/shawbellconsulting-marks-15-years-anniversary-advocates-incentives-for-locally-owned-professional-firms/ "ShawbellConsulting marks 15 years anniversary – advocates incentives for locally-owned professional firms"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005852/http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/shawbellconsulting-marks-15-years-anniversary-advocates-incentives-for-locally-owned-professional-firms/ |date=6 December 2017 }}, The Ghanaian Times, 6 June 2017.
In a voluntary capacity, Christian has been a board member of a number of organisations, including Sharecare Ghana (Sharecare4U)[http://www.sharecare4u.org/share3.php "Organizational structure | Member-directors"], Sharecare4U. and the independent not-for-profit Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG).[http://www.ideg.org/newideg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=3 "Governance & Management"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171004191648/http://www.ideg.org/newideg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=3 |date=4 October 2017 }}, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG).
In 2015, she was appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) of President John Dramani Mahama.{{cite web|url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/news/201502/231230.php?storyid=100&|title=President Appoints Members For Infrastructure Investment Fund Board|date=4 February 2015|website=Peace FM}}
Her writings include the chapter "Administration of justice by traditional authorities in Ghana: an exposition on the law and practice" contributed to A Commitment to Law, Development and Public Policy (2016, edited by Richard Frimpong Oppong and Kissi Agyebeng), a festschrift in honour of Nana Dr S. K. B. Asante, lawyer and paramount chief of Asokore Asante in the Ashanti Region.{{cite book|url=https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/11935244|title=A commitment to law, development and public policy : a festschrift in honour of Nana Dr. SKB Asante (Nana Susubribi Krobea Asante)|editor-first=Richard Frimpong |editor-last=Oppong|editor2=Kissi Agyebeng|publisher=Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing|via=Stanford Libraries|isbn=9780854902149|date=2016|access-date=6 July 2023}}
Christian appeared in the documentary film The Election Petition, which deals with the processes leading up to, during and after the election petition that was filed after Ghana's 2012 general elections.[http://citifmonline.com/2018/01/22/documentary-on-2012-election-petition-set-to-premiere-on-january-24/ "Documentary on 2012 Election Petition set to premiere on January 24"], Citi FM Online, 22 January 2018.[https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Documentary-on-2012-Election-Petition-premiers-today-620325 "Documentary on 2012 Election Petition premiers today"], GhanaWeb, 24 January 2018.
She chairs the Ethics Committee of the Ghana Football Association (GFA),{{Cite web |last=Association |first=Ghana Football |title=GFA Committees |url=https://www.ghanafa.org/who-we-are/deputy-general-secretary-communications |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=www.ghanafa.org |language=en}}Eric Nana Yaw Kwafo, [https://www.modernghana.com/sports/974675/gfa-congress-approves-members-of-independent-commi.html "GFA Congress Approves Members Of Independent Committees"], Modern Ghana, 19 December 2019. and in 2021 was appointed to the Ghana Advisory Board of Tullow Oil.[https://www.myjoyonline.com/tullow-ghana-establishes-advisory-board/ "Tullow Ghana establishes advisory board"], mjoyonline.com, 8 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- Paul Adom-Otchere, [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LfFrnTjowA "Exclusive interview with Phyllis Maria Christian; founder Shawbell Consulting"], Good Evening Ghana, 23 June 2016.
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Category:20th-century Ghanaian lawyers
Category:20th-century Ghanaian women lawyers
Category:21st-century Ghanaian lawyers
Category:21st-century Ghanaian women lawyers
Category:Alumni of Holy Child High School, Ghana
Category:Ghana School of Law alumni