Kwame Owusu Fordjour, popularly known as Dr. UN, has publicly criticized Chef Smith for not consulting him prior to organizing the cook-a-thon.
In an interview with Onua FM on July 10, 2024, Dr. UN disclosed that he only became aware of the controversy after being tagged in social media discussions.
Dr. UN advised Chef Smith to independently organize the cook-a-thon rather than seeking validation from Guinness World Records. He believes that creating a personal brand for the event could lead to greater long-term success and potentially turn it into an annual occasion.
Unaware of Chef Smith or the cook-a-thon saga until prompted by social media tags, Dr. UN suggested that had Chef Smith consulted him, he would have advised branding the cook-a-thon independently to surpass the Guinness brand’s influence. According to Dr. UN, after a Guinness attempt, the organization moves on, but a personal brand could provide lasting benefits and continuity.
Dr. UN also mentioned offering Chef Smith a positive citation to enhance his reputation, proposing the involvement of a High Commissioner to present the award, thereby adding credibility.
“I didn’t even know anything about Chef Smith or the cook-a-thon saga. It was when someone asked me why people were tagging me about the issue before I went to do my research.
“I think Chef Smith should have consulted me before attempting his cook-a-thon.
“I would tell him to do the cook-a-thon on his own (without going under the flag of Guinness). He could have branded his cook-a-thon to be even bigger than the Guinness World Record brand.
“Because after the Guinness attempt, they would leave him, but if it was his own brand, he could continue with it and even make it an annual event,” he said.
“I would give him a positive citation which could give him a standing on his own.
I would even bring a High Commissioner to present the award to him to give it some credibility,” he said.
