Ghana mourns its tallest man - a 'generous and popular giant'

Ghana mourns its tallest man - a 'generous and popular giant'Image caption, Despite the complications caused by his condition, Sulemana Abdul Samed seemed to have a positive outlook on life ByThomas NaadiBBC Africa, Reporting fromAccraPublished2 hours agoThe death of Sulemana Abdul Samed, Ghana's tallest man, has prompted an outpouring of grief especially in the north of the country where his height had made him a local celebrity.The 33 year old died in hospital on Monday in the northern city of Tamale, about 160km (100 miles) south of his home village of Gambaga, where he had been admitted because sores on his legs had become infected."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,'' a relative, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, has told the BBC.Diagnosed with gigantism in his 20s, he was 7ft 4in (223cm) tall when measured by the BBC in 2023.Could this be the world’s tallest man?Published2 January 2023It is likely he had grown even taller before his death.Known to everyone by his nickname Awuche, which means "Let's Go" in the Hausa language, he had long struggled with complications of Marfan syndrome, the genetic disorder which resulted in his extremely long limbs.He had also struggled to pay his medical bills, but recently found a benefactor in the brother of Ghana's President John Mahama, who also met the giant of Gambaga.A successful businessman, Ibrahim Mahama had offered to cover his medical bills at the Tamale Teaching Hospital - and earlier this month gave an update on the planned treatment.Image caption, Sulemana Abdul Samed, also known as Awuche, had not been measured accurately until the BBC took to the task in 2023Kudus told the BBC the sores on Ache's legs were not directly caused by Marfan syndrome - but likely to be a complication caused by his condition.He had died on Monday morning at the hospital despi...