writing vhdl code in nios ii processor

By software, I mean software for NIOS II so C langage, yes.

Do you mean that your SSRAM will be shared by the NIOS II and your counter ?!

In this case you (or Quartus) have to deal with arbitration : 2 components want to access 1 ressource. It becomes complicated, but possible.

Read and writing to an inferred RAM, you already do this in your VHDL code :

"ram(waddr) <= pre;" to write to SSRAM,

"count<=ram(waddr);" to read from SSRAM

but be aware that the Quartus fitter will infer a RAM with the ressources available (4k RAM block, or simply registers)

and read this RAM from QSYS becomes tedious. I think it is a bad way of design. Not simple for a beginner.

what is your goal more precisely ? what is the wanted behaviour of your board ? your 1st post is not detailed enough.

You are afraid in writing in C like us with the monsters. If so then forget NIOS II :-)