Liberia conducting first census in decades

MONROVIA, Liberia, March 22 (UPI) -- Liberia is conducting its first official census since 1984 as the African nation sets about recovering from a protracted civil war, it was reported Saturday.

The BBC reported the census is President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf's attempt to gather vital information for developmental purposes and help Liberia rebound from the effects of the 14-year war.

"(The census) is going to give us the data that we need to underpin our development agenda and to plan our policies around hard figures, around quantities, instead of just guessing," the president said.

In an attempt to dispel rumors that the census would lead to additional taxes, government officials created a campaign to urge residents to remain in their homes to help generate an accurate head count.

Liberian pop star Juli Endee created a song to calm those concerned citizens and it has been translated into the country's 16 languages for mass marketing.

"It is for development, not for taxes," the song clearly states.

The BBC said the census, which began Friday, is expected to take several days.