Ghanaian media personality Ola Michael has stirred some controversy by attributing the fraudulent actions of Chef Ebenezer Smith to the poor governance of President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
Speaking on UTV’s United Showbiz on Saturday, July 6, 2024, Ola Michael passionately argued that the lack of job opportunities and inadequate remuneration for the youth were the driving factors behind Chef Smith‘s decision to deceive the nation with his supposed attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the longest cooking marathon.
The host Neat FM’s midmorning show argued that if there were jobs in the country and if the youth were being paid well for the work they did, there was no way Chef Smith would have committed what can only be equated to a heinous crime and a complete deceit of everyone in Ghana.
These remarks by Ola sparked a debate among the show’s pundits, many of whom disagreed with his perspective.
Nonetheless, Ola Michael stood firm in his stance, insisting that systemic failures in governance were to blame for Smith’s actions.
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Chef Ebenezer Smith, known as Chef Smith, had conducted a cooking marathon from February 1 to March 6, 2024, at the Amadia Shopping Centre in Spintex, Accra.
On July 2, he proudly announced that he had set a new world record.
However, his claim was quickly debunked by the Guinness World Records (GWR), which clarified that they had not received any application from Smith and that the certificate he presented was not legitimate.
The actual record for the longest cooking marathon remains with Alan Fisher of Ireland.
The unraveling of Chef Smith‘s claim led to his arrest during a press conference, further compounding the controversy. The Amadia Shopping Centre, which had sponsored his attempt, stated they were unaware of the press conference and had only agreed to support Smith based on his assurances.
The fallout from Chef Smith’s deception reached a climax when he issued a tearful public apology, a moment captured in a video that quickly went viral on social media.
In the video, Chef Smith was seen on his knees, flanked by two emotional women, as he expressed profound remorse for his actions. “I have committed a great sin and I don’t even deserve to live anymore, but please forgive me and my entire family. I have sinned against the entire nation,” he said in Twi.
Chef Smith confessed that, despite applying to attempt breaking the record for the longest cooking marathon by an individual, he had not received approval from the Guinness World Records but proceeded nonetheless. “I registered but I wasn’t approved. I just wanted an opportunity to show the world the talent God has given me. I wanted the opportunity to show the world my passion for cooking and get fame. I am sorry,” he admitted amidst tears.
In his apology, Chef Smith mentioned several prominent figures, including President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Bawumia, former President John Mahama and his wife, as well as Nana Boro, seeking forgiveness from them and the entire nation.