Ghanaian chef Smith arrested for forging guinness World Record certificate

Ghanaian chef Ebenezer Smith, popularly known as Millennium Chef Smith, has been arrested for fabricating a Guinness World Record certificate in marathon cooking. The arrest took place after Smith claimed to have set a new world record with an 820-hour 25-minute cook-a-thon, which he allegedly completed from February 1 to March 6, 2024.

Smith’s claim to fame was celebrated with much fanfare at a star-studded event held at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel. The event featured performances by renowned artists such as Praye Tietia, Yaw Tog, Amerado, Kofi Jamar, and the Asakaa Boys. During the event, Smith presented a certificate to his fans, proclaiming, “Today is a day I will forever remember. I am incredibly humbled and honored to stand before you as the Guinness World Record holder.”

However, the celebration was short-lived as Alina Polianskaya, a PR Executive from Guinness World Records, debunked Smith’s claim.

Speaking to BBC Pidgin, Polianskaya stated, “No, this is not true at all. He does not hold the GWR title, and that certificate is not ours.” The authentic record for the longest cooking marathon remains with Alan Fisher of Ireland, who cooked for 119 hours and 57 minutes in Japan, surpassing Nigeria’s Hilda Baci by 24 hours.

Following the revelation, Smith and his manager were arrested by the police and detained at La Police Station in Accra. They are facing charges of forgery and misappropriation of sponsor funds. Reports indicate that Smith misused a significant donation from the owner of Amadia Shopping Centre, amounting to approximately 350,000 cedis.

The main sponsor of the cook-a-thon, Amadia Shopping Centre, expressed disappointment, stating that Chef Smith and his team did not adhere to their agreement. The company had provided the space and equipment for the marathon cooking event but felt betrayed by Smith’s actions.

Kofi Awoonor, the lawyer representing Chef Smith, spoke to a local TV station (TV3) on Tuesday night, confirming that the arrest was linked to a disagreement between Chef Smith and his main sponsor, Amadia Shopping Centre. The legal battle is expected to unfold as more details emerge about the alleged forgery and misuse of funds.