*The death of Sulemana Abdul Samed, widely recognized as Ghana’s tallest man, has prompted an outpouring of grief across northern Ghana, where friends, neighbors and admirers are remembering him as a generous man whose towering height was matched only by his compassion.
Samed died Monday while receiving treatment at Tamale Teaching Hospital after sores on his legs became infected, according to the BBC. He was 33.
His passing has deeply affected residents of Gambaga, the northern Ghanaian community he proudly called home. While his extraordinary height brought him national attention, those closest to him say it was his warmth and humility that truly defined him.
“Everyone knew how generous and kind he was,” his relative, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, told the BBC. “From when he died until now a lot of people are still coming to the house to find out what exactly happened.”
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An Extraordinary Journey
Samed’s remarkable story began long after childhood.
Unlike many people with unusual height, he did not begin growing rapidly until he was about 22 years old while working at a butcher shop in Ghana’s capital, Accra.
“I realized my tongue had expanded in my mouth to the extent that I could not breathe properly,” Samed recalled during a 2022 BBC interview.
Within days, he noticed other dramatic physical changes and was eventually diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, a genetic disorder affecting the body’s connective tissue. The condition caused his limbs to grow unusually long, curved his spine and led to a series of health complications that would shape the rest of his life.
The condition ultimately forced Samed to abandon his dream of becoming a professional driver and limited activities he once enjoyed.
“I used to play football like every other young man,” he told the BBC. “I was athletic but now I cannot even walk short distances.”
Resilience in the Face of Adversity
When the BBC measured him in late 2022, he stood 7 feet 4 inches (223 centimeters) tall. Family members believe he had grown even taller before his death.
Despite ongoing medical challenges and financial hardships, Samed became known for maintaining an upbeat spirit.
Across northern Ghana, he was affectionately called “Awuche,” meaning “Let’s Go” in the Hausa language, a nickname that reflected the approachable personality many people came to know.
His story eventually reached businessman Ibrahim Mahama, the brother of Ghanaian President John Mahama, who stepped forward to help cover Samed’s medical expenses. Earlier this month, Mahama had publicly shared updates on plans for Samed’s treatment.
According to Kudus, the infected sores that led to Samed’s hospitalization were not directly caused by Marfan syndrome but were likely complications related to his condition.
Doctors reportedly believed he was responding well to treatment before his health unexpectedly deteriorated.
A Legacy That Lives Beyond His Height
For many people in Gambaga, Samed became more than Ghana’s tallest man. He became an ambassador for his hometown.
“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,” Kudus told the BBC. “It gave the community identity, and he was popular as well.”
The family’s decision to bury Samed in Tamale rather than Gambaga speaks to the impact he had on those around him. Relatives believed the small village would be overwhelmed by the number of mourners wishing to pay their respects.
For many Ghanaians, Sulemana Abdul Samed (also known as “Awuche”) will be remembered not simply as the country’s tallest man, but as a gentle giant whose resilience, generosity and unwavering spirit left a lasting impression on everyone who knew his story.
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