Ghanaian chef Ebenezer Smith, better known as Millennium Chef Smith, was arrested and detained at La Police Station for forging a Guinness World Record for marathon cooking.
On Tuesday, July 2, Chef Smith held a press conference to present a certificate claiming he set a new world record with an 820-hour, 25-minute cook-a-thon from February 1 to March 6, 2024.
It was gathered that the event featured performances by popular Ghanaian artists like Praye Tietia, Yaw Tog, Amerado, Kofi Jamar, and the Asakaa Boys.
At the briefing, held at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra, Smith said, “Today is the day that I will forever remember. I am incredibly humbled and honoured to stand before you today as the Guinness World Record holder.”
Earlier, Smith had announced the press conference on social media, stating it would reveal his results for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.
He wrote, “It is with great pleasure and honour that we inform the general public and the media about Millennium Chef Smith’s press conference.
“He will be announcing his results from the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. The event will take place at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at 2:00 pm. Thank you for your cooperation.”
However, Alina Polianskaya, PR Executive for Guinness World Records, confirmed to the BBC that Chef Smith’s certificate was fake.
She clarified, “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: The longest cooking marathon (individual) is 119hr 57 min 16 sec and was achieved by Alan Fisher (Ireland) in Matsue, Shimane, Japan, from 28 September to 3 October 2023.”
After presenting the fake record, Chef Ebenezer Smith was arrested amid reports that he had received money from sponsors for the cook-a-thon without properly filing for the Guinness World Record.
One sponsor, the owner of Amadia Shopping Mall, who donated about 350,000 cedis, was involved in his arrest.
Attempts to contact La Police for comment were unsuccessful as their phone number was unreachable and emails were undelivered.
Watch the video below:
The award ceremony 😂😂😂😭 pic.twitter.com/GKpXL5NOIy
— Elsa 💕 (@ellyserwaaa) July 3, 2024
Herrrr Chef Smith pic.twitter.com/vacZweG9X3
— Twilight (@the_marcoli_boy) July 3, 2024
KanyiDaily had reported that the record holder for the longest cooking marathon is Irish chef Alan Fisher with 119 hours and 57 minutes, surpassing the previous record held by Nigeria’s Hilda Baci.