Ebenezer Smith, known as Millennium Chef Smith, has been arrested and is currently detained at La Police Station in Ghana. His arrest follows the revelation that he forged a Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon. Smith presented a certificate claiming he had set a new record by cooking continuously for 820 hours and 25 minutes from February 1 to March 6, 2024, during a press conference at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra.
The event attracted attention with performances by popular artists like Praye Tietia, Yaw Tog, Amerado, Kofi Jamar, and the Asakaa Boys. During the conference, Smith expressed his excitement, stating, “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.”
Prior to the event, Smith had announced it on social media, saying, “It is with great pleasure and honor that we inform the general public and the media about Millennium Chef Smith’s press conference.” However, Alina Polianskaya, a PR Executive for Guinness World Records, clarified to BBC that Smith’s certificate was invalid. She confirmed, “No, this is not true at all. He does not hold the GWR title, and that is not our certificate.”
Shortly after the announcement and the display of the forged certificate, Smith was arrested. Reports indicate that he had received substantial sponsorship for his attempt, including a significant donation from the owner of Amadia Shopping Mall, amounting to approximately 350,000 cedis. Efforts to reach the La Police for comment were unsuccessful as their phone was unreachable and emails bounced back.
The legitimate holder of the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon is Alan Fisher from Ireland, who cooked for 119 hours and 57 minutes. Fisher surpassed the previous record set by Nigeria’s Hilda Baci by more than 24 hours. According to reports, Fisher, an owner and chef of a restaurant in Japan, achieved this feat and secured two Guinness World Records titles.
In summary, Millennium Chef Smith’s attempt to falsely claim a Guinness World Record has led to legal consequences, highlighting the importance of authenticity in record-breaking achievements.
