Cape Coast, May 27, 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 asked that all hands be put on deck to fight the deadly disease. He pointed out that although most African countries were blessed wit h rich natural resources, they would not be able to make maximum use of the m if they did not fight HIV/AIDS which was destroying the human resource ba se of the continent. Dr Kaunda said this when he paid a courtesy call on the Central Regional Minister at the residency in Cape Coast. The Former Zambian President who was accompanied by his first son, L t Col Panji Kaunda, and Mr Ceil Holmes, Zambian's Ambassador to Ghana, said this year had been declared as a "combat year" to fight HIV/AIDS and urge d Africans to openly talk about the disease. He commended Ghana for honouring Dr Kwame Nkrumah, stressing that without the wonderful works of Nkrumah no one would have anything to say about Ghana today.

Dr Kaunda gave the assurance that his country would endeavour to sustain the bilateral relations that existed between the two countries. For her part, Central Regional Minister, Mrs Ama Benyiwa Doe, commen ded the former Zambia President for choosing to visit that 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 and invest in the Region. The Minister presented a Kente stole each to Dr Kaunda and members o f his entourage. Dr Kaunda later visited the Cape Coast Castle and the Omanhen's Pala ce.