ACCRA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Ghana police Service on Thursday officially launched a new website alongside its social media handles to increase its visibility and accessibility in the country.

Launching the website, Inspector-General of Police David Asante-Apeatu said with an estimate of almost 10 million internet users in Ghana, representing about 35 percent of the total population and with about 4 million Facebook subscribers and many more on social media messaging channels, the police service recognized the need to tap into such potentials as a significant medium in reaching out to the public.

"There is a huge potential for us not only to make ourselves visible and accessible on the virtual space but also to leverage public support and share information, gather intelligence and have a constructive online engagement with Ghanaians, both home and abroad," the police chief said.

"It is in this respect that we gather here today to officially launch our new website and social media handles with the aim of taking our public engagements to another level," he said.

The Director of IT of the Police Service, Assistant Commissioner of Police Samuel Winful, explained that the website was user-friendly and had four effective online interactive sessions with the public, including Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram handles.

"All this would enhance police operations as information can easily be obtained from members of the public," he said.