In early 2024, Ghana was gripped by ‘Thon’ fever.
This term described a phenomenon where numerous individuals, professionals and amateurs alike, began engaging in Guinness World Record attempts, hoping to beat one record or another.
The trend was ignited by a widely publicised Sing-a-thon in December 2023 by popular media personality Afia Asantewaa, which brought the entire country together in support of her.
Hot on its heels came another highly publicised Cook-a-thon attempt by Tamale-based chef Failatu Abdul Razak, popularly known as Chef Faila.
Just as Ghanaians were recovering from the highs of Chef Faila’s attempt, a new contender quietly made his way into the spotlight.
The Amadia Shopping Centre in Spintex became the venue for yet another cooking marathon, this time by a relatively unknown Ghanaian chef, Chef Smith.
He began his journey on February 1, 2024, without much fanfare.
However, by the final days of February and early March, Chef Smith began attracting media attention, with various celebrities stopping by to offer their support.
Stars like Nana Ama McBrown, Clemento Suarez, Kwaku Manu, and SDK passed through the venue, while artists such as Praye Tietia, Yaw Tog, Amerado, Kofi Jamar, and the Asakaa Boys delivered brief performances.
On March 6, 2024, after an astounding 820 hours of continuous cooking, Chef Smith brought his marathon to an end.
Then, on July 2, he called a press conference to announce that he had been awarded the record for the Longest Cooking Marathon by an Individual by the Guinness World Records. He even displayed a plaque to support his claim.
However, things quickly unraveled, less than an hour later. Checks on the official Guinness World Records website showed no such update.
Furthermore, images of the certificate he displayed looked noticeably different from the official ones issued to verified record holders.
And then came the bombshell: the official Guinness World Records social media account publicly denied Chef Smith’s claims.
It was also revealed that Chef Smith was not even a certified chef. Ghanaians were stunned, feeling betrayed and outraged all at once.
Calls rang out for his arrest, and demands were made for explanations. In the days that followed, videos surfaced of Chef Smith on his knees, crying and begging for forgiveness.
On July 6, in an exclusive interview with Serwaa Amihere, he confessed.
He revealed that he had applied to Guinness World Records and was denied. But rather than accept the outcome, he forged an approval letter and used it to solicit sponsorships for his fake attempt.
Whether Chef Smith’s pleas worked or not, he eventually faded from the spotlight. But the damage was done.
His deception led to a massive disinterest in the entire ‘thon’ trend. Public enthusiasm dried up, and sponsors pulled away from anyone attempting to break a record.
As for Chef Smith, he later resurfaced on social media, still cooking, and sharing his creations on Facebook. And to be fair, looking at the quality of his work, his talent is undeniable.
All he wanted was popularity. He got it, but at a heavy cost.
ID/KA
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