In a series of engagements, the President, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh, Wednesday received at his office various individuals.
First to call on the President was Madam Delesse Schwisenberg, a special envoy of the Ivorian President Laurent Gbagbo. She was accompanied to State House by her Ivorian delegation and the Gambian Foreign Affairs Minister.

Speaking to journalists shortly after her audience with the President, Madam Schwisenberg said her discussion with the President centered on the development of the African continent. Part of her discussion, she revealed, was the Ivorian President's proposal for a fund to be put aside for the Energy and Transportation committee of ECOWAS currently chaired by President Gbagbo. She also talked about the political situation in Ivory Coast which she described as stable and that very soon Ivorians will go to the polls.

In a separate engagement at the State House, the general manager of Sheraton Resort and Spa, Mr. Rick Berendsen presented ginger bread to the first family as part of the coming Christmas celebration. The gesture was received on behalf of the President, Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya Jammeh by the Secretary General and Head of the Civil Service, Mr. Abdoulie Sallah. He thanked General Manager Berendsen and his staff for the move.

Yai Awa Jagne-Jobe, a female artist from Kotu was the next to call on the President. She presented household furniture decorated with green APRC party cloths, designed and made by herself to President Jammeh.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with the President, Yai Awa said this gesture is especially for the coming Christmas and disclosed that she had made this type of furniture in Dakar and won a prize. Yai Awa revealed that she started her arts work in 1994 with the inspiration to becoming a professional artist. She added that she also went to Ghana to represent The Gambia and was awarded prizes there too.

Mrs Jagne-Jobe informed that this is not the first work she presents to President Jammeh that she has been doing certain decorative artistic works for the President since 1996 and the President she added is very impressed with her work.

She described the President as someone who supports and cares for the welfare of Gambian women.