GHANA: Ghana’s Tallest Man ‘Awuche’ Dies at 33 After Treatment for Leg Sores in Tamale
Ghana’s tallest man, Sulemana Abdul Samed, popularly known as Awuche, has died at the age of 33.
His death has triggered an outpouring of grief, especially in northern Ghana where his extraordinary height made him a local celebrity.
According to the BBC on Tuesday evening, Awuche passed away on Monday at Tamale Teaching Hospital after being admitted with infected sores on his legs. He was receiving treatment in Tamale, about 160km from his home village of Gambaga.
A relative, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, described him as generous and well-loved.
“Everyone knew how generous and kind he was. From when he died until now a lot of people are still coming to the house to find out what exactly happened,” Kudus told the BBC.
Diagnosed with gigantism in his 20s, Awuche measured 7ft 4in (223cm) when the BBC measured him in late 2022, though he was believed to have grown even taller before his death.
Known by the Hausa nickname Awuche, meaning “Let’s Go,” he lived for years with complications from Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting connective tissues that caused his unusually long limbs.
Reports say he had struggled to pay his medical bills until businessman Ibrahim Mahama, brother of Ghanaian President John Mahama, stepped in to support his treatment at Tamale Teaching Hospital. Mahama had also met Awuche and earlier this month shared updates on his medical care.
Kudus noted that the “sores on Awuche’s legs were not directly caused by Marfan syndrome but were likely a complication of the condition.”
Despite doctors saying he had been responding well to treatment, “Awuche died on Monday morning.”
“Everyone is just sad,” Kudus said, adding that residents of Gambaga were shocked by his sudden death.
He said Awuche’s fame put the village on the map.
“Anywhere he found himself in the country and they asked him, he would say he is from Gambaga and people knew that was where the tallest man was from. It gave the community identity,
he was popular as well.”
The BBC recalled that Awuche wasn’t always exceptionally tall. His rapid growth began at age 22 while working at a butcher’s shop in Accra.
“I realised my tongue had expanded in my mouth to the extent that I could not breath,” he once told the BBC. Within days, the rest of his body began increasing in size before doctors diagnosed him with Marfan syndrome.[properly]
The condition forced him to abandon his ambition of becoming a driver and return to Gambaga nine years ago.
“I used to play football like every other young man, I was athletic but now I cannot even walk short distances,” he said.
Despite the challenges, Awuche maintained a positive outlook and embraced the celebrity status his height brought him.
His family said they decided to bury him in Tamale instead of Gambaga, fearing the village would be overwhelmed by mourners.