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

The story of former footballer Mumuni Salifu, popularly known as Mumuni Africa, has resurfaced after a relative, Abdul Wahab Musah, shared how the family mistakenly believed he had died, only to discover years later that he was still alive in a hospital in Germany.

According to Wahab Musah in a Facebook write-up on Friday, June 26, 2026, Mumuni grew up in Akotex, Accra New Town, and attended Greenhill International School at Achimota. He played football for Olympic Babies, Tema Hearts Babies, and later Powerlines, where he was regarded as a talented player.

He said Mumuni travelled to Germany in search of better opportunities. Shortly 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.

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After spending years in a coma, the family received information that he had died and performed 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.

Wahab narrated that years later, he travelled to Germany for a conference in Nuremberg, the same city where Mumuni's accident had occurred.

Before leaving Ghana, he collected a 14-year-old letter that had been sent by the hospital to Mumuni's mother after the accident. The letter contained the hospital's address and the doctor's name.

“Fast forward, I had the opportunity to travel to Germany for a Conference, and when I saw the conference venue was in Nuremberg, my heart skipped. I quickly went to my uncle Oluman, who had previously lived in Germany, to ask for confirmation on which city Mumuni died in. When he mentioned the same city I was going for the conference, I knew something was brewing.

“A Few days before my trip, I went to see Mumuni's mother to ask her whether there was any correspondence from Germany to the family when Mumuni fell into the coma. She said Yes. She told me that, at the time of the accident, the doctor wrote a letter to inform the family. Because of this , she has been hiding the letter… you know our mums and how they could hide things. The letter was written 14 years back. I took the letter, which contained the address of the hospital and the name of doctor who wrote it,” he recounted.

Wahab continued saying that he visited the hospital to find out what had happened to his relative and to collect any personal belongings if he had indeed died.

Following enquiries at the hospital, he was introduced to the same doctor who had written the letter years earlier.

After identifying himself as a family member, the doctor revealed that Mumuni was still alive.

“...When I saw the doctor, my anxiety heightened. After introducing myself as a relative of Mumuni, I followed up with several questions all at once. What happened to Mumuni? Where was he buried? And any other thing I need to know as a family member? The doctor looked at me quietly. After expressing his relief and surprise at finally meeting a family member of Mumuni, he dropped the bombshell- ‘Mumuni is not dead’,” he added.

Wahab said he was given counselling by the hospital staff before being made to see his relative, Mumuni, and was warned not to expect to see the same person he remembered.

He was later taken to a ward where Mumuni had been receiving treatment. According to the hospital, he had remained in a vegetative state for years and was considered a rare medical case.

“... I was led to a ward, which had about 6 patients and was told to identify Mumuni Africa. I couldn't identify him until the doctor walked me to his bed. Is this Mumuni?, I asked myself. 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 said he was cared for daily, taken out in a wheelchair from time to time and celebrated with birthday parties every year. Family photographs had also been placed beside his bed.

He added that the doctors encouraged him to speak to Mumuni, and as he spoke about their childhood, family, and football days, the doctors noticed changes in the medical monitors.

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Wahab added that he visited Mumuni throughout his five-day stay in Germany before returning to Ghana, where he informed Mumuni's mother and siblings that he was alive and showed them pictures and videos from the hospital.

Wahab indicated that after about 16 years in a coma, the doctor informed the family that Mumuni had finally died.

Read his full post below:



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