While working in Ghana, West Africa for expedition company Raleigh International, I had the privilege of meeting someone who has still left an impression on me even after all these year.

The person in question was a man who lived as a mountain hermit high up in the hills that border Ghana and Togo. He lives (and still lives I hope) on his own in complete self sufficiency and simplicity only being visited by the occasional passing wildlife ranger. This is the story of Mamalecca (or Bad Leg Man) as we called him. Please read on.

As one of the Project Managers for the adventure phase of the expedition, I was responsible for running a trekking project in the Kyabobo Nation Park, located near the town of Nkwanta, in the Volta Region of Ghana. The expedition started in September 2002 and finished in December of that year. My time was spent leading groups of 18 to 25 year-olds through the national park and visiting the many villages that border it.

We returned to a village called Pawa, where we stayed in a small rangers hut on the outskirts of the village. One of the Wildlife Rangers suggested that we should visit the mountain man known locally as 'Mamalecca'. He lived by himself high up in the hills behind Pawa, about half a days walk from the village. We set off early the next morning intending to visit just for the day. The walk was very challenging, involving steep ascents of the hillsides, but we managed to reach Mamalecca's hut in about four hours.

His hut is located on the side of a steep hill. It can just be seen as a small grey dot in the picture on the left. He has no close neighbours, the closest civilization is the town of Pawa.

Mamalecca doesn't leave his small-holding much. He has a bad infection of his lower leg that means it is very difficult for him to walk. As a result, he has become completely dependent on his immediate surroundings to survive.