Ghana Mourns as Nation’s Tallest Man, Sulemana Abdul Samed, Dies at 33
Sulemana Abdul Samed, the man widely recognised as Ghana’s tallest citizen and affectionately known as Awuche, has died at the age of 33, bringing an end to a years-long battle with serious health complications.
His passing has left many Ghanaians in mourning, especially residents of northern Ghana, where he was admired not only for his remarkable height but also for his humility and generous spirit.
According to reports by the BBC, Sulemana died on Monday at the Tamale Teaching Hospital, where he had been receiving treatment for infected sores on his legs. He had travelled there from his hometown of Gambaga, about 160 kilometres away, for medical care.
A family member, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, described the late Awuche as a kind-hearted man whose death has deeply affected both relatives and members of the community.
“Everyone knew him for his kindness and generosity,” Kudus said, adding that people have continued to visit the family home since news of his death broke.
Sulemana was diagnosed with gigantism in his twenties. When the BBC measured him in 2022, he stood at an impressive 7 feet 4 inches (223 centimetres), although relatives believed he continued growing in the years that followed.
Doctors also diagnosed him with Marfan syndrome, a genetic condition that affects the body’s connective tissues and often causes unusually long limbs and other physical complications.
Managing the illness became increasingly difficult because of the high cost of treatment. Relief eventually came when businessman Ibrahim Mahama, brother of Ghanaian President John Mahama, offered financial support for his medical care at the Tamale Teaching Hospital.
Earlier this month, Mahama had also shared plans aimed at helping him continue receiving treatment.
According to Kudus, the leg sores that eventually led to his hospitalisation were not directly caused by Marfan syndrome but were believed to be one of the complications associated with the condition.
Although he initially appeared to be responding to treatment, he died on Monday morning.
Beyond his towering height, Sulemana had become a symbol of pride for Gambaga. His popularity placed the town on Ghana’s map, as many people associated the community with the man who stood taller than anyone else in the country.
“Whenever people asked where he was from, he proudly mentioned Gambaga, and many immediately recognised it as the hometown of Ghana’s tallest man,” Kudus recalled.
Sulemana’s extraordinary growth did not begin at birth. While working at a butcher’s shop in Accra at the age of 22, he noticed his tongue suddenly becoming enlarged, making it difficult for him to breathe.
Within a short period, the rest of his body also began to grow rapidly before doctors identified the underlying condition.
The illness forced him to abandon his dream of becoming a professional driver and return home to Gambaga nearly a decade ago.
Speaking in an earlier interview, he reflected on how dramatically his life had changed.
“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 physical challenges he faced, Sulemana remained positive and accepted the attention that came with his exceptional height, earning admiration from people across Ghana.
His family has announced that he will be buried in Tamale rather than in Gambaga, fearing that the village may not be able to cope with the large number of mourners expected to attend his funeral.
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