Some civil society groups are not impressed with the performance of the People's National Convention flagbearer at the Institute of Economic Affairs Presidential Encounter. Hassan Ayariga in what was his biggest ever platform in his political career, rolled out the policy alternatives of the PNC if voted into power. He said a PNC government under his tutelage will rehabilitate, redirect and empower the youth for purposes of economic growth. He promised a long term national development plan for the growth of the country, a plan he said will be non-partisan and drafted in the professional way possible. Ayariga said a PNC government will build as well as create world class educational institutions and create opportunities for students to become industrious and creative. He said a PNC government will transform the agricultural sector of the economy and promised to improve the National Health Insurance Scheme which he claimed is the brain child of the PNC. His lofty ideas, honorable as they may be, have been described as hollow and lacking detailed analysis and appraisal of the country’s developmental challenges. Executive Director of IMANI Ghana Franklin Cudjoe told Joy News Hassan Ayariga must be commended for “showing up” but his performance was below par. “I wasn’t at all impressed. Not at all. I didn’t see all the big issues that I thought he needed to speak about. Issues about policy design and implementation particularly. But at least he showed up and I think that is very important. I find very worrying though his prescription for people who are distressed and unemployed. I am not too sure the PNC has properly advised itself as to what they want to do. “The problem here with Ayariga’s prescription is this; he believes there are people who are distressed and unemployed and he thinks it is going to be part of his grand policy to bail out welfare grants. “I am not too sure that is what we need right now as a country,” he told Joy News’ Eric Ahianyo. Head of Industrial Relations and Social Protection Department of the Trades Union Congress, Seth Ablosoh applauded Ayariga for his self confidence but said he was empty in the answers he gave to the questions posed. "Even though he exhibited a lot of self confidence his response to the questions that were raised left much to be desired. "He said his responses were truncated." “....I think it is more of his inability to manage the questions,” he noted.