Ghana mourns its tallest man - a 'generous and popular giant'
Ghana's tallest man, Abdul-Samed Ashim Awuche, has died in hospital after treatment for complications of Marfan syndrome. He was known for his height and generosity, bringing fame to his village.
Northern Ghana is mourning the loss of Abdul-Samed Ashim Awuche, believed to be the country's tallest man. He died on Monday morning at the hospital, despite doctors saying he had been responding well to treatment. Local residents, especially in Gambaga, were shocked by his sudden death, as Awuche had made their village famous.
Awuche was not always unusually tall – at age 22 he started growing faster than his peers. While working as a butcher in Accra, Ghana's capital, he first noticed changes. “I realised my tongue had expanded in my mouth to the extent that I could not breathe properly,” he told the BBC. Days later, other parts of his body began to enlarge. He was eventually diagnosed with Marfan syndrome, which affects connective tissues.
Due to his condition, sores developed on his legs, though a friend Kudus said they were not directly caused by Marfan but likely a complication. Awuche was known not only for his height but also for his generosity and popularity. Wherever he went, he would say he was from Gambaga, and people knew that was where the tallest man came from. It gave the community identity, and he was beloved.
