# Phyllis Christian

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**Phyllis M. Christian** (born 1956) is a [Ghanaian](/source/Ghanaian) lawyer and consultant who has been called "one of the most influential women in Ghana".[2] A lawyer by training (the fourth generation of her family to enter the legal profession),[2] she is also the founder, chief executive officer and managing consultant of ShawbellConsulting, based in [Accra](/source/Accra).[3][4][5] Her maternal grandfather [George Alfred Grant](/source/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](/source/Paa_Grant) was the founding president of the [United Gold Coast Convention](/source/United_Gold_Coast_Convention), which fought for Ghanaian independence),[6] and the fourth of her parents' five children.[7] Her father was the son of [Dominica](/source/Dominica)-born barrister George James Christian (1869–1940).[8] She was educated at [Holy Child School](/source/Holy_Child_High_School,_Ghana) in [Cape Coast](/source/Cape_Coast) (1967–74), and from 1974 to 1977 at the [University of Ghana](/source/University_of_Ghana), [Legon](/source/Legon).[9] 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](/source/City_University_of_London) (1981), obtaining professional qualification from the [Ghana School of Law](/source/Ghana_School_of_Law) in 1981.[10]

### ShawbellConsulting

In June 2002, Christian founded ShawbellConsulting,[11] an Accra-based company providing legal and management consultancy services.[3] In her role as chief executive officer, Christian (whose specialist practice areas are Corporate and Energy)[12] 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,[11] among other accolades.[13]

### Other activities

As an advocate of incentives for indigenous firms, Christian has written for such outlets as the *[Daily Graphic](/source/Daily_Graphic_(Ghana))*,[14] 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".[15]

In a voluntary capacity, Christian has been a board member of a number of organisations, including Sharecare Ghana (Sharecare4U)[16] and the independent not-for-profit Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG).[17]

In 2015, she was appointed to the Advisory Committee of the Ghana Infrastructure Investment Fund (GIIF) of President [John Dramani Mahama](/source/John_Dramani_Mahama).[18]

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](/source/Kissi_Agyebeng)), a *[festschrift](/source/Festschrift)* in honour of Nana Dr [S. K. B. Asante](/source/S._K._B._Asante), lawyer and [paramount chief](/source/Paramount_chief) of Asokore Asante in the [Ashanti Region](/source/Ashanti_Region).[19]

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](/source/Ghanaian_general_election,_2012).[20][21]

She chairs the Ethics Committee of the [Ghana Football Association](/source/Ghana_Football_Association) (GFA),[22][23] and in 2021 was appointed to the Ghana Advisory Board of [Tullow Oil](/source/Tullow_Oil).[24]

## References

1. Phyllis M. Christian, ["The sacrifices men make – A memorial to George Alfred Grant"](https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/the-sacrifices-men-make-a-memorial-to-george-alfred-grant.html), *Graphic Online*, 30 October 2017.

1. Paul Adom-Otchere, ["Exclusive interview with Phyllis Maria Christian; founder Shawbell Consulting"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LfFrnTjowA) (video), 23 June 2016.

1. ["About Us"](http://www.shawbellconsulting.com/about.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20210615224220/http://shawbellconsulting.com/about.php) 15 June 2021 at the Wayback Machine, ShawbellConsulting.

1. ["Shawbell Consulting"](http://whoswholegal.com/firms/13863/office/18755/shawbell-consulting/), *Who's Who Legal*, Law Business Research.

1. ["Shawbell-Consulting to leverage on expertise -- CEO"](http://thebftonline.com/companies/17041/shawbell-consulting-to-leverage-on-expertise-ceo.html) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170708142625/http://thebftonline.com//companies/17041/shawbell-consulting-to-leverage-on-expertise-ceo.html) 8 July 2017 at the Wayback Machine, *B&FT Online*, 24 January 2016.

1. Sarah Esi Grant-Acquah, ["In the beginning was…PAA GRANT – And the UGCC"](http://www.ghanaculture.gov.gh/index1.php?linkid=338&archiveid=549&page=1&adate=14/02/2007) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20181031133034/http://www.ghanaculture.gov.gh/index1.php?linkid=338&archiveid=549&page=1&adate=14%2F02%2F2007) 31 October 2018 at the Wayback Machine. From *Daily Graphic*, 14 February 2007, via [National Commission on Culture](/source/National_Commission_on_Culture).

1. ["Bentsifi’s Tattle: A guy about town | 60th birthday bash"](http://www.graphic.com.gh/entertainment/showbiz-news/bentsifi-s-tattle-a-guy-about-town-10.html), *Graphic Online*, 15 April 2016.

1. Paul Adamson, [*Still None the Wiser: A Mid-Century Passage, 1952–1967*](https://books.google.com/books?id=mcq8tRF1oNsC&q=%22howard+christian%22+%25George+james+christian%22+gold+coast&pg=PA56), AuthorHouse, 2007, footnote p. 56.

1. ["Some notable alumni"](http://admission.ug.edu.gh/docs/AdmissionProspectus2012-2013(part1).pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230918083703/https://admission.ug.edu.gh/docs/AdmissionProspectus2012-2013(part1).pdf) 18 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine, *Admission Prospectus*, University of Ghana, p. 32.

1. ["Ethics Committee | PHYLLIS CHRISTIAN, ESQ (Chairperson)"](https://cdn.ghanafa.org/2019/12/GFA-INDEPENDENT-COMMITTEES-GFA-Ethics-Committee.pdf). Ghana Football Association. Retrieved 15 November 2024.

1. David Adadevoh, ["Shawbell-Consulting optimistic about business prospects"](http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/shawbell-consulting-optimistic-about-business-prospects/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005920/http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/shawbell-consulting-optimistic-about-business-prospects/) 6 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, *The Ghanaian Times*, 21 January 2016.

1. ["Phyllis M Christian"](http://whoswholegal.com/profiles/61719/0/christian/phyllis-m-christian/), *Who's Who Legal*, Law Business Research.

1. ["48 companies honored for contribution to oil and gas"](http://citibusinessnews.com/index.php/2016/11/07/48-companies-honored-for-contribution-to-oil-and-gas/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20180705172557/http://citibusinessnews.com/index.php/2016/11/07/48-companies-honored-for-contribution-to-oil-and-gas/) 5 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine, CitiBusinessNews, 7 November 2016.

1. Phyllis M. Christian, ["World-class indigenous consultancy firms — No paradox"](https://www.graphic.com.gh/features/opinion/world-class-indigenous-consultancy-firms-no-paradox.html), *Graphic Online*, 1 February 2018.

1. David Adadevoh, ["ShawbellConsulting marks 15 years anniversary – advocates incentives for locally-owned professional firms"](http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/shawbellconsulting-marks-15-years-anniversary-advocates-incentives-for-locally-owned-professional-firms/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171206005852/http://www.ghanaiantimes.com.gh/shawbellconsulting-marks-15-years-anniversary-advocates-incentives-for-locally-owned-professional-firms/) 6 December 2017 at the Wayback Machine, *[The Ghanaian Times](/source/The_Ghanaian_Times)*, 6 June 2017.

1. ["Organizational structure | Member-directors"](http://www.sharecare4u.org/share3.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170322002801/http://sharecare4u.org/share3.php) 22 March 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Sharecare4U.

1. ["Governance & Management"](http://www.ideg.org/newideg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=3) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20171004191648/http://www.ideg.org/newideg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2&Itemid=3) 4 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Institute for Democratic Governance (IDEG).

1. ["President Appoints Members For Infrastructure Investment Fund Board"](https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/news/201502/231230.php?storyid=100&). *Peace FM*. 4 February 2015.

1. Oppong, Richard Frimpong & Kissi Agyebeng (eds.) (2016). [*A commitment to law, development and public policy : a festschrift in honour of Nana Dr. SKB Asante (Nana Susubribi Krobea Asante)*](https://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/11935244). Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing. ISBN 9780854902149. Retrieved 6 July 2023. – via Stanford Libraries.

1. ["Documentary on 2012 Election Petition set to premiere on January 24"](http://citifmonline.com/2018/01/22/documentary-on-2012-election-petition-set-to-premiere-on-january-24/) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20190211212341/http://citifmonline.com/2018/01/22/documentary-on-2012-election-petition-set-to-premiere-on-january-24/) 11 February 2019 at the Wayback Machine, Citi FM Online, 22 January 2018.

1. ["Documentary on 2012 Election Petition premiers today"](https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Documentary-on-2012-Election-Petition-premiers-today-620325), *GhanaWeb*, 24 January 2018.

1. Association, Ghana Football. ["GFA Committees"](https://www.ghanafa.org/who-we-are/deputy-general-secretary-communications). *www.ghanafa.org*. Retrieved 2024-11-14.

1. Eric Nana Yaw Kwafo, ["GFA Congress Approves Members Of Independent Committees"](https://www.modernghana.com/sports/974675/gfa-congress-approves-members-of-independent-commi.html), *Modern Ghana*, 19 December 2019.

1. ["Tullow Ghana establishes advisory board"](https://www.myjoyonline.com/tullow-ghana-establishes-advisory-board/), mjoyonline.com, 8 June 2021. Retrieved 11 June 2021.

## External links

- Paul Adom-Otchere, ["Exclusive interview with Phyllis Maria Christian; founder Shawbell Consulting"](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LfFrnTjowA), *Good Evening Ghana*, 23 June 2016.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Phyllis Christian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Christian) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phyllis_Christian?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.