Ghana is mourning the death of Sulemana Abdul-Samed, affectionately known nationwide as Awuche, whose extraordinary height and gentle spirit turned him into a symbol of resilience and pride.

Awuche, widely reported to be Ghana’s tallest man, died at the Tamale Teaching Hospital after developing a severe infection from sores on his legs. Relatives said he had been receiving treatment and was thought to be improving when his condition suddenly deteriorated.

“Everyone knew how generous and kind he was,” his relative, Sulemana Abdul Kudus, told local media, describing a man who never allowed his condition to harden his outlook on life.

Standing at about 7 feet 4 inches, and believed by family members to have grown even taller in recent years, Awuche first came to international attention when his story was documented by the BBC. In Ghana, however, he was already a familiar figure, instantly recognisable in markets, bus stations and football fields across the north.

His nickname, Awuche, means “Let’s go” in Hausa, a reflection of the optimism and humour he tried to maintain despite his health struggles. Born in the northern town of Gambaga, he grew up with average height and dreams of becoming a professional driver.

Those dreams began to slip away in his early twenties while he was working at a butcher’s shop in Accra. He noticed his tongue swelling so much that breathing became difficult. Within days, his limbs and torso began to lengthen at an alarming rate.

Doctors eventually diagnosed him with Marfan syndrome, a rare genetic disorder affecting connective tissue. The condition caused his bones and limbs to grow unusually long and brought a series of complications, including chronic pain, mobility problems and the leg sores that would later prove fatal.

“I used to play football like every other young man,” he once recalled. “I was athletic, but now I cannot even walk short distances.”

Despite these limitations, Awuche embraced his public profile. He spoke openly about his condition, using his visibility to draw attention to the challenges faced by people with rare diseases and disabilities in Ghana, where specialist care is often difficult to access.

His fame put Gambaga on the map, drawing visitors and journalists to the small town. Yet behind the attention, he struggled for years to afford the medical care he needed. That burden eased only after prominent businessman Ibrahim Mahama met him and offered to cover his treatment costs.

Family members say the decision has been taken to bury him in Tamale rather than Gambaga, fearing his hometown would be overwhelmed by the number of mourners expected to attend.

For many in northern Ghana, Awuche’s towering frame came to represent something far larger than physical height: the ability to face adversity with dignity, humour and unshaken pride in his roots. His death has left a void that, relatives say, will be felt from the streets of Gambaga to communities across the country that saw their own struggles reflected in his.