Joseph Edward Michel

Brigadier Joseph Edward Michel (1917-1961) was a Ghanaian soldier. He was one of the early commissioned officers in the Ghana Army.

Early life and education Michel was the son of Alexander Michel, a French Trader at Tarkwa and Afua his wife who hailed from Atikpui near Ho. He received his education at the Ewe Presbyterian Boarding School at Amedzofe and continued at the Presbyterian Training College at Akropong where he qualified as a teacher.

Career Joseph Michel initially taught at the Kpando Presbyterian Senior School. On 4 August 1943, he joined the colonial army at Ho in the Volta Region via the school teachers' special enlistment programme. He started as a"local" sergeant. He was initially a schoolmaster / instructor in the army. He was appointed full sergeant in January 1945. He was appointed platoon commander at Kumasi. He attended a Platoon Commander's Tactical course at Warminster in the United Kingdom in relation to his appointment. Between 1948 and 1950, he was the second-in-charge of the Gold Coast Regiment Training Centre (GCR Training Centre) at Kumasi. In 1950, he attended the Company Commanders' Course 67/50 at the School of Infantry, Warminster. He returned to the GCR Training Centre where he was promoted to rank of captain. He was made the Company Commander of the GCR Training Centre in April 1951.

United Nations Operation in the Congo Following the request of the United Nations for Ghanaian troops in the Congo (Leopoldville), Michel was chosen to lead the Ghanaian contingent. In July 1960, he was appointed the A - Brigade Commander in Léopoldville. He was posted to Brigade Headquarters in Léopoldville in August 1960. Major General H. T. Alexander was impressed with his smooth transition from commanding a battalion in Ghana to commanding a brigade within the United Nations Operation in the Congo with such success. In June 1961, it was announced that President Nkrumah had agreed to second Michel to the United Nations as the Chief of Staff of the United Nations Forces in Congo. This was opposed by Major General Alexander who felt that with only a few Ghanaian senior army officers available, it was better to keep Michel within the army command than to release him for staff work with the United Nations. He suggested sending Colonel Ankrah or Lt. Colonel Aferi instead. He lobbied Mr Dadzie, Head of the Ghana Mission at the United Nations in New York City. The Force Commander of the UNOC was also keen for him to start and a compromise was reached for a start date of 20 September 1961. Unfortunately, he did not live to take up this appointment.

Diabetes He also developed diabetes in 1951 and this raised questions about his fitness to continue in the military. Brigadier Paley raised these concerns in discussion with other officers in 1953 when his progress in the army was discussed.

Death On 3 September 1961, Michel died following injuries he sustained in an air crash at Kumasi, Ghana. He was buried at the Christiansborg military cemetery at Osu, Accra on 5 September 1961. He was survived by his wife, a biological daughter (Georgina) and two other adopted children.

Honours The Michel Camp of the Ghana Armed Forces near Tema is named after him in honour of his achievements during his short life in the Ghana military.