Guinness World Records (GWR), the global authority on record-breaking feats, has stated it was unaware of Ghanaian Chef Ebenezer Smith’s attempt to break the record for the longest cooking marathon. Despite Smith’s claim of cooking for 820 hours from February 1 to March 6, 2024, GWR confirmed he did not submit any evidence for the record.
As earlier reported, Chef Smith announced his achievement at a press briefing in Accra, where he presented a certificate that GWR had declared inauthentic.
“To confirm, he does not hold the GWR title and the certificate is not real and has not come from Guinness World Records.
“No, we were not aware. We have not received an application from him for this attempt,” GWR PR Manager Madalyn Bielfeld said in an email to GraphicOnline.
GWR further stated that the legitimate record for the longest cooking marathon is 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds, set by Alan Fisher of Ireland in Japan in October 2023. The Irish chef had unseated Nigeria’s Hilda Effiong Bassey to take the world record for the longest cooking marathon
Smith’s announcement initially garnered widespread attention and celebration in Ghana, but doubts about the legitimacy of his claim led to an investigation. GWR confirmed that Smith’s certificate was not genuine and that he does not hold the title.
In another development, Chef Smith was arrested by the police in connection with an alleged fraud involving GHC350,000 from one of his sponsors, Amadia Shopping Mall. The recent revelation has further led to a wave of disappointment and disbelief among Chef Smith’s supporters in Ghana.