Ghana’s tallest man, Sulemana Abdul Samed, popularly known as Awuche, has died at the age of 33 after battling health complications linked to a rare genetic disorder.
According to a BBC report, Awuche died on Monday at the Tamale Teaching Hospital in northern Ghana, where he had been receiving treatment for infected sores on his legs. His death has sparked an outpouring of grief across the country, particularly in his hometown of Gambaga, where he was widely admired for his resilience and generosity.
A relative of the deceased, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, described Awuche as a compassionate man whose kindness touched many lives.
“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 twenties, Awuche measured 7 feet 4 inches (223 centimetres) when the BBC visited him in 2022, although relatives believe he may have grown even taller before his death.
His unusual height was linked to Marfan syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that affects the body’s connective tissues and often results in abnormally long limbs and other serious health complications.
The BBC reported that Awuche had struggled to meet the cost of his medical treatment until Ghanaian businessman Ibrahim Mahama, brother of President John Mahama, intervened by supporting his care at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Kudus explained that although the sores on Awuche’s legs were not directly caused by Marfan syndrome, they were believed to have developed as a complication of the condition.
He added that doctors had indicated the late giant was responding positively to treatment before his condition suddenly deteriorated.
Recalling Awuche’s influence on the community, Kudus said his fame brought national attention to Gambaga.
“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, and he was popular as well,” he said.
The BBC recalled that Awuche’s rapid growth began at the age of 22 while he was working at a butcher’s shop in Accra. He had recounted how his tongue first enlarged, making it difficult to breathe, before the rest of his body also began to grow unusually.
“I realised my tongue had expanded in my mouth to the extent that I could not breathe properly,” Awuche had told the BBC during the 2022 interview.
The condition eventually forced him to abandon his ambition of becoming a professional driver and return to his hometown, where he lived despite increasing mobility challenges.
Reflecting on the impact of his illness, Awuche had said, “I used to play football like every other young man. I was athletic, but now I cannot even walk short distances.”
Despite his health struggles, he remained optimistic and embraced the recognition his extraordinary height brought him.
His family has announced that he will be buried in Tamale instead of Gambaga, citing concerns that the large number of mourners expected at his funeral could overwhelm the rural community.
