Accra Hearts of Oak Managing Director Julius Ben Emunah has resigned after a brief tenure of roughly seven to eight months, announcing the decision on 9 September 2026 in a farewell message posted on Facebook.
Appointed with effect from 2 February 2026 as successor to Dr Delali Anku-Adiamah, Emunah arrived as part of a club effort to strengthen its administrative structure and inject greater professionalism, transparency and competitiveness into one of Ghana’s most storied football institutions.
The Phobians had highlighted his nearly decade-long experience in football administration, governance and sports management at both national and continental levels when they brought him in from the Ghana Football Association, where he had most recently served as Head of Competitions.
In his statement Emunah described the choice as one made with a heavy heart and not an easy one, calling his time serving the club a great honour and a deeply rewarding experience. He thanked the Board of Directors, led by HRH Togbe Afede XIV, for the trust, confidence and opportunity given to him, and expressed particular appreciation to the National Chapters Committee under Alhaji Yusif Abdulai for their support and what he termed brotherly love throughout his period in office.
He made clear that stepping down from the executive role did not mean stepping away from Hearts of Oak. He remains a proud and committed supporter, he wrote, and will always be available to serve, assist or support the club in whatever capacity he can. He left the position, he added, with immense appreciation and the firm conviction that the club has a bright future ahead.
Emunah’s background had been presented as well suited to the demands of the job. Before joining Hearts he had spent years inside the GFA, beginning around 2016 as Western Regional Secretary and later Regional Administrative Manager of the Western Region Football Association.
He then moved into national roles as National Safety and Security Officer and Club Licensing Manager between 2020 and 2024, work that involved matchday safety, regulatory compliance and ensuring clubs met CAF and FIFA licensing standards. He later became Head of Competitions, helping plan and run the Ghana Premier League and other domestic tournaments. He had also been involved in continental events including CAF interclub competitions, AFCON qualifiers, CHAN and the African Games, and had served as a safety and security consultant for CAF. Academically he holds a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Cape Coast and a Global Master’s in Sports Management and Legal Skills from ISDE Law Business School in partnership with FC Barcelona. He had earlier worked as a broadcast journalist and in sports administration at the National Sports Authority. The club expected him to oversee administration, commercial activities and sporting operations while working with technical staff, players, supporters and sponsors to drive long-term growth.
His resignation comes after a short spell in charge, with Hearts of Oak having started the 2026/27 Ghana Premier League campaign strongly. Earlier in the year there had been speculation and rumours about management changes even before his appointment was confirmed; the club at one point publicly dismissed reports that he was about to replace Anku-Adiamah while the latter was still in post.
Once appointed, Emunah’s arrival was framed as a strategic step toward better governance and operational efficiency at a club that has faced administrative challenges in recent seasons. An early report on the day of the announcement suggested he had been sacked, but subsequent coverage and his own statement treated the departure as a resignation. As of the announcement the club had not issued a detailed official statement of its own or named a successor.
Emunah’s exit after less than a year leaves Hearts looking once more for stability at the top of its administrative structure while he insists his personal connection to the Phobians remains intact.