Michel Camp is a key Ghana Armed Forces base that also serves as a living tribute to a soldier who helped shape Ghana’s early military and international reputation.
Many have wondered how the camp got its name. Well, it is named after Brigadier (now Brigadier-General) Joseph Michel, one of the most senior Ghanaian soldiers in the years following independence, whose life and career, though cut short, were marked by exceptional service at both national and international levels.
From Queues to Coffins: The tragedy of Ghana’s military recruitment
Brigadier Michel was born to a French father and a mother from the Volta Region in Ghana. Before putting on a military uniform, he was a trained teacher who taught at the Kpando Presbyterian School.
His transition from the classroom to the military reflected a deep commitment to service and leadership, qualities that quickly distinguished him within the Ghana Army.
His professionalism earned him appointment as Aide-de-Camp to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, placing him at the centre of the country’s early post-independence administration.
In 1959, his reputation extended beyond Ghana when he was selected as Equerry to Queen Elizabeth II and stationed at Buckingham Palace.
He was also scheduled to accompany the Queen and Prince Philip on their 17-day tour of Ghana, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia.
However, it was his role in international peacekeeping that firmly etched his name into history. Brigadier Michel served with distinction as leader of the Ghanaian contingent under the United Nations Operations in the Congo (UNOC).
His leadership was so highly regarded that the United Nations, with the approval of President Nkrumah, selected him to become Chief of Staff of the UN Forces in the Congo, a rare honor for a Ghanaian officer at the time.
Tragically, Brigadier Michel never assumed the role.
In 1961, as he prepared to depart for the Congo assignment, he died in an air crash in Kumasi at the age of 44.
In recognition of his outstanding service and the promise of a career that symbolised Ghana’s early contribution to global peacekeeping, the Ghana Armed Forces named Michel Camp in his honour.
Suspended military recruitment exercise in Accra set to resume
The camp stands today as a reminder of a soldier whose dedication transcended borders and whose legacy continues to inspire generations of officers and men.
MAG/AE