The Man Who Died Twice: The story of Mumuni Africa who was declared dead but found alive years later

The family of former Ghanaian footballer Mumuni Salifu, popularly known as Mumuni Africa, has shared an emotional story about how they mistakenly believed he had died, only to discover years later that he was still alive in a hospital in Germany.

A relative, Abdul Wahab Musah, revealed in a Facebook post that Mumuni grew up in Akotex, Accra New Town, and attended Greenhill International School in Achimota. He was a talented footballer who played for teams including Olympic Babies, Tema Hearts Babies, and Powerlines.

According to Wahab, Mumuni travelled to Germany in search of better opportunities. After arriving, he sent money home for his mother to buy a house. However, before the money reached Ghana, he was involved in a swimming pool accident that left him in a coma.

After spending years in a coma, the family received information that Mumuni had died. Believing the news, they organised his funeral rites.

“He didn’t even get to see the house he bought for his mum. After a few years in a coma, word was received that Mumuni had died. His Adua (funeral rites) was organized,” Wahab wrote.

Years later, Wahab travelled to Germany for a conference in Nuremberg, the same city where Mumuni’s accident happened.

Before leaving Ghana, he collected an old letter sent by the hospital to Mumuni’s mother after the accident. The letter contained the hospital’s address and the doctor’s name.

After arriving in Germany, Wahab visited the hospital to find out more about what happened to his relative.

He was introduced to the same doctor who handled Mumuni’s case years earlier. After identifying himself as a family member, the doctor gave him shocking news.

“Mumuni is not dead,” the doctor told him.

Wahab said he was overwhelmed after discovering that his relative was still alive.

He was later taken to the ward where Mumuni had been receiving care. The hospital explained that he had remained in a vegetative state for years and was considered a rare medical case.

“When I looked at the side of his bed, I saw pictures of his mum, brothers and sisters taped there. The hospital said they took the pictures from his photo album when he had the accident. That was the confirmation I needed. Charlie I wept like a baby. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing,” he recounted.

The hospital staff explained that Mumuni received daily care, was taken out in a wheelchair sometimes, and had his birthdays celebrated every year.

Wahab said doctors encouraged him to speak to Mumuni. As he talked about their childhood, family and football memories, the medical team noticed changes in the monitors.

He spent five days visiting Mumuni before returning to Ghana to inform the family that he was alive.

After about 16 years in a coma, Wahab said the doctors later informed the family that Mumuni Africa had finally passed away.