Ghanaian chef Ebenezer Smith has been arrested on fraud allegations shortly after claiming a Guinness World Record.
Smith held a press conference at La Palm Royal Beach Hotel in Accra on Tuesday, 2 July, where he declared himself the new record holder for the longest cooking marathon by an individual. He claimed to have cooked continuously for 820 hours from 1 February to 6 March 2024.
During the event, Smith displayed a certificate stating: “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 verified, this would surpass the current record of 119 hours and 57 minutes held by Irishman Alan Fisher.
However, according to Accra-based Asaase Radio, Smith was arrested just hours after the press conference.
Shortly after his celebration, news of his arrest over alleged fraud broke out.
According to Ghana Media, he was arrested for “defrauding one of the sponsors, Amadia Shopping Mall, of his cooking marathon.”
Chef Smith’s sister, Ayram, and his lawyer, Kofi Awoonor have since confirmed the arrest to 3news’ Job Laboja.
