Ghanaian culinary sensation, Ebenezer Smith, popularly known as Chef Smith, has been detained by the Ghana Police Service shortly after announcing his new Guinness World Record for the longest individual cooking marathon.
The arrest took place just moments before a scheduled press conference at La Palm Royal Beach. According to Chef Smith’s manager, Benny, the event was interrupted by a group, including musician Nana Boroo, who claimed to be part of the initial support team during Chef Smith’s marathon cooking session.
Benny recounted the incident on Hitz FM: “We were getting ready to go live for our press conference, and a group approached us. Nana Boroo identified himself and claimed they were part of the original team that supported Chef Smith. They insisted on having a private conversation with Chef Smith in their car, but we had agreed to discuss matters at the reception area.”
The situation escalated when Nana Boroo’s request to speak privately in a car was denied, leading to a commotion that ultimately resulted in police intervention.
A journalist present at the scene described the chaotic turn of events: “There was sudden commotion, and management urged us to leave the room. Chef Smith had to leave abruptly, and we then noticed the presence of police and soldiers. The building was locked down, and it emerged that Nana Boroo’s claim of being part of Chef Smith’s management team and his removal led to the arrest, allegedly due to a breach of contract.”
Chef Smith is currently being held at the La Police Station in Accra, and the specific charges against him remain unclear.
Chef Smith completed his marathon cooking session on March 6, 2023, after an impressive 820 hours of continuous cooking. He publicly declared this achievement during the press conference held on July 2, 2024, at La Palm Beach Hotel.
A banner at the event proudly proclaimed: “Press Conference. Unveiling the New World Cook-a-Thon Record Holder. Millennium Chef Smith from Ghana with an incredible 802 hours, 25 minutes to dethrone Irish King, Alan Fisher.”
Despite Chef Smith’s claims of breaking the record, the official Guinness World Records website still lists Alan Fisher as the current record holder with a time of 119 hours, 57 minutes, and 16 seconds.