Physician, author and politician, Dr Arthur Kobina Kennedy says he is surprised at how President Akufo-Addo runs his administration.

According to Dr Kennedy, prior to Akufo-Addo becoming president, he had confided in him that he [Akufo-Addo] did not appreciate how the current constitution gave so much power to the Executive.

Speaking on JoyNews AM Show, the author said then-candidate Akufo-Addo said this made it very difficult for people to call the attention of a president when they go wrong.

He told the host Benjamin Akakpo that after a conversation with the then-candidate, he was certain that Mr Akufo-Addo was the difference Ghana was looking for.

However, Dr Kennedy said, years down the line he cannot reconcile the two, as his personality before his election was different from after his election.

"The President once told me, 'I don't like the presidential system,' and I said, 'Why?' and he said, 'Because it gives too much power to one person.'"

"He says, 'In the Prime Ministerial system, you are only a first among equals, so your colleagues can rein you in when you get too dictatorial.' That was very admirable, hearing that from him, and when you put that beside the person we are seeing as president now, it is very difficult for me to reconcile the two," he said.

The physician said he was stunned as to how the president has abused the very power he had once criticised.

"I am stunned. You know, you would have expected that apart from everything else, you could rely on him to be a guardian of our constitutional principles—you know, respect for boundaries, sense of propriety, making sure the nation does not get harmed."

"Opportunity after opportunity, you get the impression that he just has not found it in him to do that, and it is sad watching that," he added.