President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has officially launched the Advocacy and Public Awareness Campaign of the 2008 National Population and Housing Census.

In a statement Tuesday launching the campaign, the President said the census is a powerful tool for development and would be used by government and the country's development partners alike to formulate policies to improve the living conditions of the people.

"It will be used as a baseline data to track progress made towards the implementation of the Poverty Reduction Strategy and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)," an Executive Mansion release quoted the President as saying.

The census, the President pointed out, will also aid government to formulate policies and programs and access the quality of housing in Liberia.

The Liberian leader again made it clear that the census will not be used to impose taxes neither will it be used for political manipulations or marginalization.

President Johnson Sirleaf has, meanwhile, called on local government officials in the various counties to assist in spreading the census message to all citizens and residents.

Stating that the success of the program depends on the cooperation of everyone, the Liberian leaders added, "Every individual residing in Liberia is required to come out during the census week and give accurate information about him/her."

The President also appealed to all those residing in the geographical boundaries of Liberia to avail themselves for the series of pre-census, census and post-census activities earmarked for implementation by the Liberia Institute of Statistics & Geo-Information Services.

The Director-general of LISGIS, Dr.Edward Liberty said his Institute has instituted the necessary measures to ensure the successful implementation of the census. Dr. Liberty said up to 85-percent of the country has been mapped out while the remaining 15-percent will be completed by May this year.

Pres. Johnson Sirleaf launched the National Population and Housing Census in June this year but the actual census kicks off from March 2 - 27, 2007.

The 2008 Census in Liberia will target the population of the country while also taking in to consideration the number and quality of Liberian houses, and is the first such election held in Liberia in 23-years.