Ghanaian chef Ebenezer Smith, known as Millennium Chef Smith, was taken into custody at the La Police Station following his announcement at a press conference at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra. At this highly publicized event, attended by celebrities including Praye Tietia, Yaw Tog, Amerado, Kofi Jamar, and the Asakaa Boys, Smith unveiled what he presented as a certificate from Guinness World Records. He proclaimed himself the new record holder for an 820-hour, 25-minute cook-a-thon that reportedly started on February 1 and concluded on March 6, 2024.
The chef expressed his joy and honor at the press conference, stating it was a day he would “forever remember.” This declaration was preceded by a social media announcement where Smith invited the public and media to witness his historic moment. However, the validity of his claims quickly came into question.
The controversy began when Joy FM’s Kwame Dadzie, driven by skepticism about the authenticity of Smith’s certificate and the absence of any confirmation from Guinness World Records, reached out to the organization for clarification. Guinness World Records, through their PR Executive Alina Polianskaya, clarified that Smith’s certificate was counterfeit.
Polianskaya confirmed that Smith does not hold any title under their records, and the document he showcased was not issued by them. The true and current record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual is held by Alan Fisher from Ireland, who cooked for 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds in Matsue, Shimane, Japan, from September 28 to October 3, 2023. Fisher’s record surpasses the previous record set by Nigerian chef Hilda Baci by over 24 hours.
Further inquiries by Graphic Showbiz revealed more about the situation. Guinness World Records’ PR Manager, Madalyn Biefield, indicated that the organization was not even aware of Chef Smith’s attempt, nor had they received any application from him regarding this challenge.
In defense of Chef Smith, his manager, Benny, provided what they claim to be proof of validation of their record to Hitz FM. This development has added another layer of complexity to the situation, with conflicting reports and evidence leaving the public and culinary community puzzled.
The aftermath of Smith’s fraudulent claim saw immediate action from local authorities. The chef was arrested shortly after flaunting his dubious achievement. Investigations revealed that Smith had received substantial financial support from sponsors for his supposed record-setting attempt. Notably, the owner of Amadia Shopping Mall had contributed about 350,000 cedis to support what turned out to be a non-existent challenge.
