Ghanaian Chef Arrested for Fraud After Claiming Guinness World Record for Longest Cooking Marathon.

Chef Ebenezer Smith, a Ghanaian, was taken into custody after being accused of fraud. Asaase Radio, headquartered in Accra, reports that he was taken into custody few hours after declaring during a press conference at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra that he is the most recent holder of the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual.

Chef Smith made the following announcement during the news conference on Tuesday, July 2, at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra: "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.” 

During the Tuesday, July 2 event at the La Palm Royal Beach Hotel, Chef Smith declared that he had cooked nonstop for an incredible 820 hours, spanning from February 1st to March 6th, 2024. The text on his Guinness World Record certificate, which was on show at the time, says: “The longest cooking marathon (individual) is 802 hours 25 minutes and was achieved by Ebenezer Smith (Ghanaian) in Spintex, Accra, Ghana. From 1 February to 6 March, 2024.”If confirmed, he would take over the record from the current holder Irishman Alan Fisher who cooked for 119 hours and 57 minutes.''

News of his suspected fraud-related arrest surfaced shortly after his party. The reason for his detention, according to Ghana Media, was "defrauding one of the sponsors, Amadia Shopping Mall, of his cooking marathon."

Since then, 3news' Job Laboja has received confirmation of the arrest from Chef Smith's sister Ayram and attorney Kofi Awoonor.