Head of Policy Monitoring and Evaluation at the Presidency, has lauded the eloquence of the flag-bearer of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP)Nana Akufo-Addo, but maintains that his speech at the IEA’s Evening Encounter lacked substance. Dr. Tony Aidoo said Nana Addo was ‘skipping’ the issues and failed to impress the many Ghanaians who were eager to hear more about his much touted free senior high school education promise. Dr. Aidoo was critiquing the NPP flag-bearer’s performance at the Institute of Economic Affairs-organized Evening Encounter for presidential candidates on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme Wednesday. The NPP flag-bearer who was the last presidential aspirant to appear at the Evening Encounter Tuesday, reiterated his commitment to ensuring the free SHS promise comes to fruition if voted as president. Nana Akufo-Addo indicated that the free SHS policy will cost 78 million annually to implement; estimated at 0.1% of our GDP. This he added that it will include tuition, boarding, feeding and all the other charges for the 2013-2014 academic year. But Dr. Tony Aidoo on Ekosii Sen doubted the smooth implementation of the policy by Nana Akufo-Addo and the NPP. He posited that Nana Akufo-Addo who is leading the crusade was a key member of the ‘failed’ Kufuor administration which ruled the country for eight years hence wondered how he [Nana] can make the free SHS policy work. The Policy Monitoring and Evaluation boss added that the NPP flag-bearer policies to transform Ghana economy is a “neocolonial approach of transformation” which he says will take the country backwards. Dr. Tony Aidoo said overall Nana Akufo-Addo’s performance was not impressive. However, a former Minister of State at the Ministry of Finance Economic Planning, Dr. Anthony Akoto Osei chided the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) government for what he says are unwarranted criticisms of the NPP flag-bearer. He stated that Nana Addo silenced the "doubting Thomases" in the NDC after he [Nana] provided figures to back his policy hence members of the ruling party’s resort to needless critique to cover up their shame. The former Minister of State at the Finance Ministry said given the limited time at the Evening Encounter, Nana Addo had to give a summary of the many initiatives the NPP has to better the lives of Ghanaians if voted into power. Dr. Akoto Osei noted that details of the NPP’s policies would be made public after the party’s manifesto launch on August 25.