MTN, British High Commission help police to fight crime

Accra, Jan. 14, GNA - Mobile telecommunications giants, MTN, and the British High Commission in Accra have partnered to present promotional materials worth GH¢16,000 to the Ghana Police to help in driving public awareness of the use of the 18555 Crime Fighters Short Code.

The promotional materials, made up of fliers and stickers, were produced to create more publicity among the general public about the benefi= t of keeping the code in mind everywhere they go, according to a statement issued by MTN. The free MTN short Code which was launched a year ago has been of grea= t assistance to the operations of the police.

"With the short code, the general public can now freely contact the police in times of emergencies by simply dialling 18555," the statement said. According to the police, the short code had played a considerable role in crime reduction in the country particularly during the Christmas season, and the need for more public awareness about the availability of the code was necessary.

Speaking at the presentation ceremony at the Ghana Police headquarters in Accra, the Director General of Police Operations, Deputy Commissioner of Police John Kudalor, noted that policing was a shared responsibility and that information on the short code had been very helpful. "The Short Code is easy to memorize and the police are very happy th= at MTN and the British High Commission are supporting efforts at making the code stick to the minds of Ghanaians."

He called on the general public to make good use of the MTN short code to inform the police of criminal activities.

The Acting Commissioner of the British High Commission, Mr. Martine Johnson, pledged the support of the British Government to the Ghana Police Service. He commended the Ghana Police Service for its positive track record an= d called on the public to support the police because policing should be a concerted effort. The Senior Manager of Corporate Communications of MTN, Mrs Georgina Fiagbenu expressed her organization's commitment to support initiatives t= hat would help reduce crime rate in the country. She gave the assurance that MTN would continue to support the police t= o provide adequate security for the citizenry through the short code. The Director of Public Affairs of the Ghana Police Service, Superintendent Kwasi Ofori, advised the general public to desist from prank calls since the exercise of crime fighting was of serious concern to the police.