Sulemana Abdul Samed, known as Awuche and recognised as Ghana's tallest man, has died aged 33 in hospital in Tamale, prompting widespread mourning particularly in the northern region where he had become a local celebrity. He died on Monday after being admitted for infected leg sores, a complication linked to Marfan syndrome, the genetic disorder that had caused his extraordinary height and long limbs. His death matters locally as he had given his home village of Gambaga a sense of identity and pride, and was widely remembered as generous and kind despite the physical hardships his condition caused him.

Diagnosed after a rapid growth spurt at 22, Awuche measured 7ft 4in (223cm) when the BBC assessed him in 2023, and is thought to have grown taller still before his death. The condition forced him to abandon his ambition of becoming a driver and increasingly limited his mobility, though he maintained a positive outlook and struggled to afford medical care until Ibrahim Mahama, brother of Ghana's president, stepped in to fund his treatment at Tamale Teaching Hospital. His family has chosen to bury him in Tamale rather than Gambaga, fearing the village would be overwhelmed by mourners.