Source: Francis Prince Ankrah, Esq.(Registrar) with Mr. Daniel Amuzu-Kpeglo (Jnr. Assistant Registrar)
Eric Kweku Nuertey, former Student and now Management Member, AdaCoE
A Peek in…
In the quiet corridors of Ada College of Education, where the sea breeze meets the scent of chalk and ambition, one man’s journey stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and the transformative power of education. Meet Eric Kweku Nuertey,the college’s first-ever Internal Auditor. He is not loud. He doesn’t need to be. His story speaks volumes. His story reads like a blueprint for perseverance. Graduating as a student in 2003 from AdaCoE (then ADATCO), he returned in 2020, as a son to nurture the soil that once shaped him.
Boy to Man
Born on 16th July 1980 in the serene Yilo Krobo community of Klo Agogo, near the cascading beauty of Boti Falls, Eric’s early life was shaped by modest means and deep familial bonds. He attended Somanya Roman Catholic Junior Senior Secondary In 2000, Eric gained admission after passing an entrance examination to do the 3-year Teacher Training Certificate ‘A’ course with specialisation in Mathematics and Technical Education. Back then technical studies were mandatory for all science students, who had to specialise in science or mathematics. In Ada College of Education (then Ada Training College), he was a resident of Songor (Royals) Hall.
Vicissitudes of Life
Eric’s father, once a dedicated “pupil teacher,” turned to farming after retrenchment, while his mother traded foodstuffs to keep the household afloat. He was the second of three children, but after losing his elder sibling, he became the eldest by default. When his father passed away five days after completion of his SSSCE, the weight of the world fell on his young shoulders. He didn’t flinch. Instead, he grew up overnight, caring for his then ailing mother and his little sister, thirteen years his junior. He became a student, a breadwinner, and a spiritual anchor, serving as President of the Catholic Students Union for two years, a rare honour. “You cannot choose to fail,” he told himself. And he didn’t. He recalls with reverence the influence of Mr. Amoah “Go-Goo,” a stern but inspiring tutor who instilled in students the value of academic rigor and personal comportment. He also remembers the square meals, the punctual allowances, and the quiet tears he shed while sending money home. Eric specialized in Mathematics, with a fondness for Technical Drawing. He left ADATCO not just with a certificate, but with a compass: Dedication to work.
Life as a Young Teacher
His first posting was to Akpo Presby primary school in the Yilo Krobo Municipality. The village was remote, the work demanding, but Eric’s gift for teaching science lit up classrooms. Soon, he caught the eye of the Circuit Supervisor and was moved to the JHS level, where he turned struggling students into believers. One of his proudest moments? He made such an impact that even his weakest student scored a Grade 5 in Science at the BECE. Though he once dreamed of becoming a Catholic Priest, Eric found his true calling in education.
The Pivot to Accounting
In 2006, a friend introduced him to an evening HND Accounting programme at Koforidua Polytechnic. Eric enrolled, graduated in 2008, and soon after was recruited by the Ghana Education Service as an Internal Auditor. His first posting was to Fanteakwa District Education Office, Begoro where he served from 2011 to 2016. Never one to rest on his laurels, Eric pursued a Bachelor of Commerce through UCC’s Distance Programme, followed by an MBA in Accounting and Finance at UPSA, commuting tirelessly from Begoro to Legon-Madina on weekends. In 2016, he was transferred to Denkyembuor District Education Office, Akwatia and soon after, began the Chartered Accountancy Programme, which he completed in 2021, despite multiple rewrites, a testament to his grit. Eric also obtained a Post-Chartered Diploma in Forensic Audit in 2023.
Coming Home to AdaCoE
In 2020, Eric saw a newspaper advertisement for an Internal Auditor position at AdaCoE. He applied, got interviewed, and as fate would have it, got the job. But this wasn’t just a new role, it was a historic one. In over 50 years, the college had never had an Internal Auditor. The task? Build the unit from scratch. Resistance came swiftly. Staff were skeptical. Change was uncomfortable. Some were openly hostile. But Eric, with the quiet backing of the Principal and Management, pressed on. He educated, engaged, and endured. His breakthrough came when he successfully processed documentation that secured vehicle allowances for deserving staff, making AdaCoE one of only four colleges to achieve this feat. Suddenly, the whispers changed, from “Who is this difficult upstart?” to “That hardworking Nuertey!”
Faith, Family, and the Fear of God
Eric is not just an auditor. He’s a man of deep faith and a devout Catholic. When asked if his work is fulfilling, he doesn’t talk about promotions or praise. He talks about judgment. “I’m no longer a teacher in the classroom. So how is God going to judge me? I don’t want to be retired and hear that EOCO or CID is looking for me. I want to sleep like a baby.” He is married to Ms. Elizabeth Shardey, and together they raise their five-year-old daughter, Nuertey M. Jueni, who lights up his world with laughter and love.
The AdaCoE Factor
Soft-spoken and deeply reflective, Eric credits AdaCoE with shaping him into a law-abiding, God-fearing Ghanaian. His leadership journey, from student chaplain for Songor hall to management member, is marked by humility, integrity, and a quiet resolve. His guiding principle remains unchanged: “Now you are the breadwinner of your family. You cannot choose to fail.”
A Vision for AdaCoE at 60
As AdaCoE celebrates 60 years, Eric believes the future lies in its alumni. But alumni will only return if their memories are warm. His advice? “Build a happy experience for students, through relationships, tuition, mentorship, and even discipline. If they feel loved, they’ll come back, no matter how far they go.” If He Could Speak to His Younger Self, He’d say: “Every disappointment is a disguised blessing. Put your time to good use.”
Our Parting Message
In a world that often celebrates noise, Eric Kweku Nuertey is a reminder that quiet strength, anchored in faith and purpose, can move mountains and institutions. He didn’t just return to AdaCoE. He returned to help build! For us, Eric Kweku Nuertey embodies the spirit of AdaCoE, where hardship births strength, and every student has the potential to return as a leader.
