Renowned Ghanaian chef, Ebenezer Smith, also known as Millennium Chef Smith, has been arrested and detained at the La Police Station for forging a Guinness World Record for marathon cooking.
On Tuesday, Smith presented a certificate at a press conference, claiming to have set a new world record for an 820-hour and 25-minute cooking marathon, which allegedly started on February 1 and ended on March 6, 2024. The event was held at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra and featured performances by stars like Praye Tietia, Yaw Tog, Amerado, Kofi Jamar, and the Asakaa Boys.
During the event, Smith declared, “Today is the day that I will forever remember. I am incredibly humbled and honored to stand before you today as the Guinness World Record holder.” He had also announced the press conference on social media, promising to reveal his record-breaking feat.
However, the PR Executive for Guinness World Records (GWR), Alina Polianskaya, confirmed to the BBC that Smith’s certificate was invalid. She stated, “No, this is not true at all. He does not hold the GWR title, and that is not our certificate. The current and true record holder is Alan Fisher of Ireland, who achieved 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds in Matsue, Shimane, Japan, from September 28 to October 3, 2023.”
Following his fake record announcement, Smith was arrested by the police. Reports indicate that Smith had received significant funding from sponsors for his cook-a-thon, which he had not properly filed with GWR. One sponsor, the owner of Amadia Shopping Mall, who donated approximately 350,000 cedis, was instrumental in his arrest.
Attempts to contact the La Police for comments were unsuccessful, as their number was unreachable, and emails went undelivered. The legitimate Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon is held by Irish chef Alan Fisher, who clocked in 119 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record by Nigeria’s Hilda Baci.
Irish chef Alan Fisher, who owns a restaurant in Japan, holds the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon (individual), achieving 119 hours and 57 minutes, over 24 hours longer than the previous record set by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci.
