Two groups of young Britons on Tuesday called on the Gambian leader, His Excellency Sheikh Professor Alhaji Dr. Yahya AJJ Jammeh at State House in Banjul. The two groups are from Sheikh Eternity and AS IT IS TV, being guests of the Jammeh Foundation for Peace (JFP) and the President's Empowerment of Girls Education Project (PEGEP). They said they were at State House to familiarize themselves with the Gambian leader, assuring him of their continuous willingness as goodwill ambassadors of The Gambia.

Addressing the youngsters, the President said in the 400 years of British colonial rule we had only two high schools and two hospitals. "The bad image of Africa is always being portrayed on TVs, yet it is the African blood and tears that build the West and Africa did not receive anything from them other than castigation," he stated.

President Jammeh advised the youths to continue to serve as good ambassadors and work hard to succeed in life. The Gambia, he continued, is a country of tolerance and peace that welcomes all good things, religions, race and colour except the bad ones "because we believe in interdependence and mutual respect for all; that is what humanity is all about," he stated. He thanked them for coming to The Gambia.

The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Fatou Lamin Faye, thanked the guests for portraying the good image of the country and urged the youngsters to do their best to make changes as it is in their hands as young people.

The Minister of the Interior, Ousman Sonko, dilated on peace and security that exists in The Gambia thanking the efforts of President Jammeh since 1994.

The Youth and Sports Minister Sheriff Gomez, for his part, said the visit is important because the world is a global village. He said the young people should work together as they are the assets of any nation. The Youth and Sports Minister urged the youngsters to share and build partnership with others in order to build a better world.

The Minister of Local Government and Lands, Ismaila Sambou, called on the youths to interact, respect elders and each another as well.

Mr. Ansumana Jammeh, Chief Executive Officer of JFP thanked the group for the impressive documentary shown on their TV that depicts the good image of the country. This group, he said organises a fund raising programme and give the proceeds to the JFP and PEGEP. The JFP boss thanked President Jammeh for receiving them.

Sheriff Abba Sanyang, National Assembly Member for the area also thanked the President and said the audience will go a long way in boosting the moral of the youngsters who are working hard to help the President to eradicate poverty and empower the education of the girl-child.

PEGEP, The Gambia and Gambians have changed in a very short period of time because of various projects introduced by the President, Sanyang said. He revealed that 35,000 girls have benefited from PEGEP.

For his part, Clive Smith, Co-Director of AS IT IS TV in UK expressed happiness for connecting with their roots. Smith said they are not allowed to know where Africa is and that the bad image of Africa is what is always communicated to them.

He said his TV station is the only one portraying the good image of The Gambia and promised to keep up the momentum. He called on his colleagues to come to The Gambia and see what the country can offer them and what they can offer the country.

Madu Ellis and Loony Clieve both expressed similar sentiments saying the visit will avail them the opportunity to exchange ideas and request for easy access on how young people from Britain can come to find their roots.

By Fatou Touray