Ghana mourns its tallest man - a 'generous and popular giant'
Sulemana Abdul Samed, known as Awuche, who stood at 223cm, has passed away in hospital at the age of 33 following treatment for infected leg sores.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Sulemana Abdul Samed, Ghana's tallest man, has died at the age of 33.
- He passed away at a hospital in Tamale while being treated for infected sores on his legs.
- Medical diagnosis revealed he suffered from Marfan syndrome, causing abnormal body growth.
- Ibrahim Mahama, brother of Ghana's president, had recently stepped in to cover his medical bills.
Ghana is mourning the loss of Sulemana Abdul Samed, the country's tallest man, whose towering height made him a local celebrity, particularly in the northern region where an outpouring of grief has followed his passing.
The 33-year-old died on Monday morning at a hospital in the northern city of Tamale, located roughly 160km (100 miles) south of his home village of Gambaga. He had been admitted to the facility because sores on his legs had developed a severe infection. Although doctors stated he was responding well to treatment, he passed away early in the week.
Diagnosed with gigantism in his 20s, a measurement taken by the BBC in late 2022 recorded his height at 7ft 4in (223cm), though it is believed he may have grown even taller before his death. Awuche had not always been exceptionally tall, but began growing at a rapid pace compared to his peers at the age of 22 while working at a butcher's shop in Ghana's capital city, Accra.
He first noticed the changes when his tongue expanded inside his mouth to the point where he could not breathe properly. Days later, every other part of his body started increasing in size, leading to his eventual diagnosis with Marfan syndrome, a condition that affects connective tissues and caused his spine to curve abnormally.
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Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Nine years ago, his condition forced him to abandon his aspirations of becoming a driver and move back to Gambaga, while also halting his active social life and athletic pursuits like football. His family noted that they chose to bury Awuche in Tamale rather than Gambaga to prevent the village from being overwhelmed by the massive crowd of mourners.
Marfan syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting the body's connective tissues. Beyond extreme height and disproportionately long limbs, it frequently leads to musculoskeletal complications, spinal curvature, and cardiovascular vulnerabilities. Rapid physical expansion often stretches the skin and compromises the circulatory system, making patients highly susceptible to chronic wounds and infections similar to those experienced by Awuche.
Prior to his passing, he had struggled significantly with medical expenses. Fortunately, he found a benefactor in Ibrahim Mahama, a successful businessman and brother of Ghana's President John Mahama, who offered to cover his bills at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
"Everyone is just sad." Residents of Gambaga expressing shock over his sudden death.
Kudus
Source: BBC World
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