Kumasi, Nov 25, GNA- The Ghana Institute of Architects (GIA) has raised 166 million cedis towards the expansion of the computer laboratory of the Department of Architecture at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) in Kumasi.

Mr Hoffman Lartey, an Executive Council Member of GIA, who announced this in Kumasi on Tuesday said it formed part of GIA's assistance to the department.

Speaking at the annual week celebration of the Architecture Students Association of Ghana (ASAG), he said the GIA was also doing everything possible to standardise and regulate the practice of architecture in the country.

Mr Lartey advised architecture students to apply themselves diligently to their studies and not merely complain about the grading system.

Mr Timothy Adjetey, President of ASAG noted that the department was one of the only two schools in Africa accredited by the Commonwealth Association of Architects (CAA).

He said it was a remarkable recognition, which placed the department in the same rank with other top-notch institutions of architectural training the world over.

"However, with increasing student intake over the years, the department is expanding but very little has been seen in terms of expansion of facilities".

Mr Adjetey said with the next validation visit by the joint CAA and GIA accreditation board set for September 2004, the department faces the challenge of addressing concerns raised during the last accreditation visit for it to retain the accreditation.

He, therefore, appealed to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, the Ministry of Works and Housing, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFund) and the university administration and other donors for assistance to complete the studio block extension project.

Mr Adjetey announced that the students had realised 10 million cedis from contributions and used as seed fund for the establishment of the ASAG Development/Project Fund and appealed to architects, especially those who can afford to lecture at the department.