Ghana’s Tallest Man, Sulemana Abdul Samed, Dies at 33

Ghana is mourning the death of Sulemana Abdul Samed, widely regarded as the country’s tallest man, whose remarkable height and generous personality made him a well-known figure in northern Ghana.

Samed, who was popularly called Awuche, died on Monday at a hospital in Tamale at the age of 33. He had been taken to the hospital after sores on his legs became infected.

Tamale is about 160 kilometres south of Gambaga, the village where he lived and became a local celebrity.

News of his death has drawn expressions of sorrow from relatives, friends and community members, many of whom have continued to visit the family home to seek information and offer their condolences.

A relative, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, told the BBC that Samed was remembered for his kindness and willingness to assist others.

“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 said.

Samed was diagnosed with gigantism while in his twenties. When the BBC measured him in late 2022, he stood at 7 feet 4 inches, equivalent to 223 centimetres.

It is believed that he may have grown taller in the years that followed.

His nickname, Awuche, means “Let’s Go” in the Hausa language and became the name by which he was commonly known in his community and beyond.

Samed had also lived with complications linked to Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder that resulted in his unusually long limbs.

Despite the attention surrounding his height, he faced significant health and financial difficulties, including challenges paying for medical treatment.

He later received support from a brother of Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama, who had also met the man popularly known as the “giant of Gambaga.”.

Samed’s death has left his family and community grieving the loss of a man remembered not only for his extraordinary height, but also for his generosity, kindness and popularity.