Accra, Sept. 8, GNA - Areeba, a cell phone service provider, on Thursday launched a new service that would provide its customers with direct access to Police and Fire Service emergency services. The facility, which is free for all Areeba customers has rerouted all distress calls made to the emergency numbers directly to Police call Centres in Accra, Tema and Kumasi and the Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) in Accra.

Subscribers with distress calls could dial 191 to be connected to the three Police call centres or dial 192 to put in them in contact with the Fire Service call centre in Accra.

Mr Ahmad Farroukh, Managing Director of Areeba Ghana, said the new service would enable many Ghanaians to have immediate access to the security services in times of distress and emergency, thereby enhancing the overall security and safety of the country.

He appealed to the public not to abuse the facility by calling to both the Police and the Fire service call centres when there was no emergency.

He commended the National Communication Authority (NCA) for the support they gave to the Company as well as the Police and the Fire service for their collaboration to ensure the success of the project. Mr Patrick Kwateng Acheampong, Inspector General of Police, thanked Areeba for the assistance, adding that this was not the first time that company had come to the aid of the Police Service.

He said the new facility would promote the community policing agenda as well as help to reduce crime and robbery.

Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Kofi Boakye, Director of Police Operations, who explained the process, said distress callers who would call the Police emergency number would send them direct to the three Police centres in Accra, Tema and Kumasi.

He said the new facility would identify the location of the distress caller and standby Police patrol teams would be dispatched to the area to assist the person.