Ghana’s Tallest Man Awuche, Dies At 33 

Ghana’s tallest man, Sulemana Abdul Samed, popularly known as Awuche, has died at the age of 33, triggering an outpouring of grief across northern Ghana where he was widely admired and celebrated.

According to a BBC report, Awuche died on Monday at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for infected sores on his legs. He had been admitted to the facility in Tamale, about 160 kilometres from his hometown of Gambaga.

A relative, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, described him as a kind-hearted and generous individual whose death had deeply affected residents.

“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 stood at 7ft 4in (223cm) when the BBC measured him in 2022, although relatives believed he may have grown even taller in recent years.

He was affectionately known by the Hausa nickname “Awuche,” meaning “Let’s go,” and had lived for years with complications linked to Marfan syndrome, a genetic connective tissue disorder that contributed to his unusually long limbs and towering height.

The BBC reported that he had struggled to meet the cost of his medical treatment until businessman Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of Ghanaian President John Mahama, intervened to support his care at the Tamale Teaching Hospital. Mahama had reportedly met him and recently provided updates on efforts to improve his treatment.

Kudus explained that the sores on Awuche’s legs were not directly caused by Marfan syndrome but were likely complications arising from the condition. Although doctors had reportedly said he was responding well to treatment, he died on Monday morning.

“Everyone is just sad,” Kudus said, adding that residents of Gambaga were shocked by the news.

He noted that Awuche’s fame brought national attention to the community.

“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 was not always exceptionally tall. His rapid physical growth reportedly began at the age of 22 while he was working at a butcher’s shop in Accra.

Speaking previously about the onset of his condition, he said, “I realised my tongue had expanded in my mouth to the extent that I could not breathe properly.”

According to him, the rest of his body began increasing in size shortly afterwards before doctors diagnosed him with Marfan syndrome.

The condition eventually forced him to abandon his dream of becoming a driver and return to Gambaga about nine years ago.

Reflecting on the impact of the 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 that came with being known as Ghana’s tallest man.

His family said he would be buried in Tamale rather than Gambaga because they feared the village would be unable to accommodate the large number of mourners expected at his funeral.