Accra, June 24, GNA - Twenty-three students from the University of Georgia, United States who are in the country for heritage conservation projects on Sunday paid a courtesy call on the Ga Traditional Council in Accra.

The students, who are mainly in the fields of architecture and food and nutrition, would be in the country for the next six weeks to carry out two heritage conservation projects in parts of Accra. The projects include the restoration of an old colonial building at James Town and reconstruction of a colonial wall constructed with stones and clay at Ablekuma township, which broke down some years ago. Some of the food and nutrition students would also assists patients at the Princess Marie Luis Hospital to combat malnutrition and diseases.

The group would also raise an amount of 30,000 dollars to assist deprived communities in the Ga traditional area and to empower the people for self-help development projects. Mr. Pratt Cassity, Director, Centre for Community Design, Planning and Preservation of the University of Georgia and leader of the group said the students were satisfied with the friendliness and hospitality accorded them by Ghanaians.

He expressed the group's gratitude to the warmth and hospitality of the people, which he said, was reassuring. Mr. Cassity said James Town had a lot of problems so with the restoration of the old building the people in the area could use it for traditional activities. Nii Tetteh Kpobi Tsuru II, La Mantse, who welcomed the delegation, said Accra is a city of many different people from different backgrounds.

He expressed the readiness of the Ga Traditional Council to cooperate with the group and ensure that their work and stay in the capital was successful. The group later presented two bottles of schnapps and architectural albums to the chiefs at the ceremony. Some of the chiefs present at the meeting are Nii Dodoo Insaki, Akpanga Gien Mantse and Nii Ayikai III, Otublohum Mantse.