Ghana's Tallest Man Dies in Tamale Hospital
Sulemana Abdul Samed, recognised as Ghana's tallest man, passed away on Monday in a hospital in the northern city of Tamale. The 33-year-old died after leg sores became infected, sparking widespread grief, particularly in the north where his height made him a local celebrity.
"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," said a relative, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, to the BBC.
Diagnosed with Gigantism and Marfan Syndrome
Samed was diagnosed with gigantism in his 20s and was officially recorded as 7ft 4in (223cm) tall in 2022. According to the BBC, it is likely he had grown since then. He had long struggled with complications of Marfan syndrome, the genetic disorder that caused his extraordinary height.
Known locally as 'Awuche', Samed began growing faster than his peers at age 22 while working at a butcher shop in Accra. He recalled, "I realised my tongue had expanded in my mouth to the extent that I could not breath [properly]." Marfan syndrome also affected his social life: "I used to play football like every other young man, I was athletic but now I cannot even walk short distances."
A Local Celebrity and Community Identity
Samed's height gave him fame across Ghana. Kudus added, "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."
Due to the expected large number of mourners, the family decided to bury Samed in Tamale rather than his home village, which would have been overwhelmed.
