Guinness World Records has officially declared that the certificate held by Ghanaian chef, Chef Smith, claiming he has set the record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, is fraudulent.
The revelation came in response to an inquiry made by Derek Edem Kojo, a journalist with GhOne TV. Madalyn Bielfield, PR Manager for Guinness World Records, confirmed the authenticity of the current record and clarified that Alan Fisher of Ireland remains the official record holder.
In her statement, Bielfield unequivocally denied Chef Smith’s claim, stating, “No, this is not true at all. He does not hold the GWR title and that is not our certificate.”
Chef Smith made headlines on July 2, 2024, during a press conference at La Palm Hotel in Accra, where he announced his purported achievement. At the event, he declared, “I am deeply humbled and honoured to announce that I am now the new world record holder for the cook-a-thon.”
Displayed at the conference was a certificate allegedly from Guinness World Records, which read: “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.”
I am deeply humbled and honored to announce that I am now the new world record holder for the cook-a-thon – Millennium Chef Smith #cookathon pic.twitter.com/vIh7K5LsQb
— JoyNews (@JoyNewsOnTV) July 2, 2024
The citation claimed Chef Smith had broken the record with a marathon time of 802 hours and 25 minutes. However, following the investigation and subsequent confirmation from Guinness World Records, it is clear that the certificate was fabricated and the claim invalid.
This incident has sparked a wave of disappointment and disbelief among Chef Smith’s supporters and the general public. The announcement was initially met with enthusiasm, celebrating what was thought to be a significant achievement for Ghana. However, the official statement from Guinness World Records has set the record straight.
As it stands, Alan Fisher continues to hold the record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, a title he has maintained with an official time of 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds.