Ghana tallest man, wey dem dey call Awuche, don die. Di 33-year-old giant pass away for Tamale Teaching Hospital on Monday. Di news don shock plenty people, especially for di north where e be local celebrity.
Awuche, wey real name na Sulemana Abdul Samed, bin suffer from gigantism and Marfan syndrome. E bin reach 7ft 4in when BBC measure am for 2022, but dem suspect e don grow even taller before e die. Di man bin get sores for im legs wey infect, na why dem admit am for hospital.
One relative, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, tell BBC say: ‘Everyone just sad. From when e die till now, plenty people still dey come house to find out wetin happen.’ Awuche no be just tall man—e be kind and generous person wey everybody like.
Di tall man bin dey struggle to pay medical bills before. But Ibrahim Mahama, wey be brother of Ghana President John Mahama, step in to cover all di treatment costs. Di businessman meet Awuche for Gambaga village and promise to support am.
Kudus explain say di sores for Awuche legs no be directly from Marfan, but e be complication from im condition. Doctors bin say e dey respond well to treatment, but e still die on Monday morning. Di community for Gambaga shock well well because e make dia village famous. Anywhere Awuche go, e go say ‘I from Gambaga,’ and people know say dat na where di tallest man dey.
Awuche start to grow too much when e bin dey 22 years old. Earlier, e dey work for Accra for butchers shop. E tell BBC say im tongue swell inside mouth till e no fit breathe proper. Later, every part of im body begin increase size. Doctors diagnose am with Marfan syndrome.
Nine years ago, di height force am to stop im dream to become driver and return to Gambaga. E tell BBC say: ‘I used to play football like every young man, but now I no fit even walk short distance.’ Despite everything, e bin dey positive and enjoy im celebrity status.
Di family decide to bury Awuche for Tamale instead of Gambaga. Dem fear say di village go too many mourners. So di burial go happen for Tamale.
