Cape Coast, May 26, GNA - The former President of Zambia, Dr Kenneth Kaunda, on Wednesday described HIV/AIDS as the most destructive enemy of man in the 21st Century and called for all hands on deck to fight it. He noted that although most African countries are blessed with rich natural resources, if they did not fight HIV/AIDS, they would not be able to make maximum use of the resources.

Dr Kaunda said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Central Regional Minister, Madam Ama Benyiwa-Doe in Cape Coast on Wednesday. The former Zambian President, who was accompanied by his first son, Lieutenant Colonel Tanji Kaunda and Mr Cecil Holmes, Zambian ambassador to Ghana, said this year has been declared as "combat year" to fight HIV/AIDS and urged Africans to openly talk about the disease. He commended Ghanaians for honoring Dr Kwame Nkrumah, stressing that without the wonderful work of Dr Nkrumah, no one would have anything to say about Ghana today.

Dr Kaunda gave assurance that his country would endeavour to sustain the bilateral relationship that exist between the two countries and added that he would help market the tourist potentials of the Central Region in his country.

The Regional Minister, Madam Benyiwa-Doe commended the former Zambian President for choosing to visit the Region. She said the region was blessed with a number of tourist attractions and called on potential investors from Zambia to take advantage of the situation to invest in the region.

Dr Kaunda later visited the Cape Coast castle and Omanhene palace. The Minister later presented a kente stole to Dr Kaunda and his entourage. 26 May 10