Liberia Sacks Census Officials

The head of Liberia’s census body and one of his deputies have been sacked with immediate effect amidst confusion over the country’s much-postponed population count.

President George Weah announced the dismissal of acting director general Wilmot Smith and his deputy Alex Williams in a statement released on Monday.

The decision “is based on administrative reasons,” the statement said.

President Weah has appointed Lawrence George to act as the head of the agency.

The sacked officials had publicly disagreed on whether the country was ready to conduct the census.

Meanwhile, President Weah has been out of Liberia for weeks to attend official functions including watching his son, Timothy, play for the US in the football World Cup in Qatar.

Report says he is under heavy criticism for not staying at home for the census and setting an example to others.

However, his press secretary, Isaac Kelgbeh told a radio programme last week that the president had been counted before departing the country, while an official at the census agency said President Weah would be counted on his return.

BBC/CO