BIOGRAPHY

Early Life

Ernest Kwadwo Nyarko was born on 13 July 1964 in Krofa in the Asante-Akim South Municipality of the Ashanti Region, to Nana Kwadwo Nyarko III, the Paramount Chief of Prang Traditional Area in the Bono East Region; and Madam Elizabeth Abena Kwankye of Krofa. He spent his formative years with both parents at Juaben.

Education

Ernest begun his basic education in 1969 at Juaben Demonstration School in the Ashanti Region. His father was then a Mathematics Tutor at the Juaben Teacher’s Training College, now Juaben Senior High School. In 1970, when his father le the teaching profession and relocated to Prang, Ernest continued his education at Nyarko Primary School in Prang. Having demonstrated a high level of academic excellence, Ernest earned a double promotion from Primary Four (4) to Primary Six (6), as was the practice in those days. He then continued to the middle school (that is present day Junior High School) at the Local Authority No.2 Middle School in 1976 in Prang. Just a a year, Ernest le for Sunyani, the Bono Regional Capital, to continue his basic education at the Rapid Preparatory School. He wrote and passed the Common Entrance Examination and got admi to Sunyani Senior High School and completed the Ordinary Level Certificate Examination in 1983. He then proceeded to the Dormaa Ahenkro Senior High School for his Advanced Level Certificate Examination from 1983 to 1985. Ernest gained admission into the University of Ghana, Legon in 1987 for his undergraduate studies and successfully completed with a degree in Economics and Statistics in 1990. At the University, he was also a Representative of Akuafo Hall on the Student Representative Council. A er his National Service at the Institute of Statistical Social and Economic Research (ISSER), he was awarded a Scholarship in 1993 to pursue his post-graduate studies at the University of Oslo (UiO) in Norway, where he completed his master’s degree in economics with Finance in 1998. Besides the rigorous academic work at the University of Oslo, he was also a leading member of the Ghanaian/African Students Union. To consummate his professional career development, Ernest also earned an Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) certificate and was certified as a Representative by the Financial Services Board of South Africa in 1999 and 2011 respectively.

Working Life

Ernest was an astute finance and investment professional with over 25 years’ of extensive experience in Infrastructure Investments, Private Equity, Pension Fund Management, and Privatization. He was also a Researcher with a keen interest in SME financing and development and had to his credit well-researched articles on finance and investment published in globally renowned journals. He began his working life with KPMG Ghana as a Business Analyst in 2001 and later worked as a Senior Investment Manager at Fidelity Capital Partners, the private equity subsidiary of Fidelity Bank, Ghana. In 2006, he moved on to the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ghana’s national pension fund, as head of Equity Investments. He joined the ARM-Harith Infrastructure Investment Limited of South Africa, as an Investment Director in 2008 and has been the Country Director for Ghana and Nigeria since the year 2016. At Harith, he led the development and execution of several infrastructure investments projects in South Africa, Ghana and Nigeria until his untimely demise on Monday 17, April 2023.

Marriage And Family Life

Ernest Kwadwo Nyarko’s family life was just as fulfilling as his professional life. He was a loving husband to his wife whom he married in 1994 at Berean Baptist Church in Lartebiorkoshie, Ghana. Their union was blessed with two children, Nana Kofi and Nana Amma. Ernest was a devoted family man who cherished the time spent with his loved ones. He was deeply commi ed to the well-being and education of his children and was a supportive and loving husband to his wife. Ernest’s happy and fulfilling family life was a testament to his remarkable character and his dedication to those closest to him. His legacy will continue to inspire those who knew him, both professionally and personally.

Christian Life

As a devout Christian, Ernest was an active member of the Berean Baptist Church located at Laterbiokorshie in Accra and played a leading role in church expansion and relocation activities. Indeed, he was a two-time Board Chair of the Berean Baptist Churches and Outreach Ministries spread across suburban Accra and its environs including Lartebiokorshie, Dome, Weija, Ofaakor, Joma and Dodowa. At the University of Oslo, he was a multipleterm Deacon at the Free International Baptist Church, Sandvika, Oslo. He was also the Founder and President of the Consolation Ministries International, an organization dedicated to the Ministry of Giving (sharing resources with the needy via educational scholarships, mentoring, motivational messages, etc) and pointing people to the peace of God which passes all understanding.

Conclusion

Ernest, the entire family, friends and loved ones are devasted by your sudden departure and you will forever be missed. But we are consoled by the fact that the good Lord knows best and needs you more. He is survived by his wife, two adult children, father and mother. May the Lord grant you a peaceful resting place until we meet again on the day of resurrection.