Kwame Obeng

Born in 1982 without arms or legs, Nick Vujicic’s early life was defined by limitation and profound loneliness. Bullied, isolated, and battling suicidal thoughts, he saw no future for himself. But at 17, everything changed. He realized his purpose wasn’t tied to his body, but to something within. He began to speak, sharing a message of hope that started in small prayer groups. Today, Nick is a globally renowned motivational speaker and evangelist, married with four children. He swims, paints, and has inspired millions. His journey re-echoes a powerful truth, "Your ability to impact the world is not physical - it is innate". You are perfectly created for a purpose that goes far beyond what you have or don’t have on the outside.

In 2024, the Bank of Ghana's new headquarters at Ridge was a dusty, chaotic construction site. It was 70% done at the time of my visit with manual stairs and raw potential hidden amid the noise. By 2025, when it was completed, it soared as Ghana's tallest building (100m), clinching the Office Architecture award at the African Property Awards and standing as the nation's most sustainable EDGE Advanced project. This experience mirrors human journeys: Many are 'under construction', unpolished, undervalued, and navigating wilderness phases. Yet greatness lies within, ready to emerge as world-changers. Hence, don not judge people's now and write them off, instead, extend help and grace when it is in your power to do so. The overlooked today could be the solution to the world's problems tomorrow.

Your purpose is intricately wired within you, inseparable from your abilities and potentials. Like a small palm seed that holds the power to grow into a towering tree bearing fruit for oil, wine, and thatch, your purpose is innate and inherent. God designed you from birth with unique traits to fulfill purpose. Embrace the truth that, "You are designed for your purpose, and you are just perfect for it." Your desire to lead, inspire, create, or calculate, are your makeup. Accept yourself as you are, with your peculiar potentials, and never try to be someone else.

Who am I? Why am I here on earth? What am I here for? Why am I different? These are the crucial questions our souls want answers to, yet we often do not even think about them or even ask. You are not merely created to exist; instead, you were crafted with a divine mandate, a unique assignment that must be fulfilled, and that is PURPOSE. Purpose is what gives meaning to your life, it is the momentum that drives your life, and that is what motivates you to empower others. Your existence is evidence that your generation needs something that your life contains and that is PURPOSE. Be bold, look for that thing that gives you true fulfilment and satisfaction, and live it because, the world needs it.

In our world today, society has redefined success as what can be seen, measured, and applauded. Hence, we are trained from childhood to chase titles, material wealth, and status, to the neglect of the quiet voice of PURPOSE which is the very reason we were born. Meanwhile, no mansion, no promotion, no applause can fill the void left by an unlived and unfulfilled life. True fulfillment and happiness is not found in meeting the world’s benchmarks, instead, it is found in discovering why you are here on earth and having the courage to live it. Today, I encourage you to pursue purpose over material success because, an accomplished life materially without meaning, is still an empty one.

In a fast-changing world, the wisdom of yesterday can’t always solve the challenges of today. This article reflects on the need for generational transition — urging leaders to hand over the “spear” of opportunity to younger talents, while honoring the experience of the old. It’s time to bridge wisdom and innovation for collective survival.

Have social media “likes” become the new measure of self-worth? This diary entry challenges the illusion of online validation and points us back to the true source of value — a God-given identity that no number of reactions can define.

In this continuation of the Russia–Ukraine analysis, Kwame Obeng examines whether Russia’s invasion is justified under international law. Drawing on UN Charter Articles 2(4) and 51, and comparing past global conflicts like Libya and Iraq, this piece explores the legality, logic, and moral weight behind President Putin’s claims of self-defence, humanitarianism, and “de-nazification.”

Building on Part 1, this article delves into what international law says about one state invading another. Using Articles 2(4) and 51 of the UN Charter, Kwame Obeng analyzes how the rules governing sovereignty, self-defence, and the use of force shape our understanding of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine — and whether such action can ever be justified.