The Executive Secretary of the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association said they were not threatened into changing their initial disagreements on government’s deal with the Korean construction firm STX. Rather, Sammy Amegayibo said they were “positively” pressured into changing their stance. The Association had been vocal in rejecting the STX deal and had sent a petition to Parliament asking the law makers not to approve the $1o billion agreement with STX for a 200,0000 housing units to be built in Ghana. But in a sudden twist GREDA members said they were satisfied with government’s deal with STX after thorough engagements with the Parliamentary Select Committee on Works and Housing. Joy News reported that the sudden change in position may have been as a result of death threats some of the members received, but the Executive Secretary of the Association vehemently disagreed. “If you say pressure in a positive way; in other words people who are concerned about the STX deal have contacted us by text massages, phone conversations or personally coming to us and sharing ideas on the subject. “Beyond this there is no other pressure,” he said, adding “this is normal.” According to him, they have soften their stance on the deal after fully acquainting themselves to the details of the STX deal. Contrary to their initial understanding of a 30 percent local content in the agreement, Amegayibor said they have now been assured of a 70-80 per cent local content. He also explained that their fears of government using the oil revenue to fund the project have been allayed. Asked if STX deal will be beneficial to the people of Ghana, Amegayibor said “it depends on how you look at it”, adding that GREDA has not made any official statement on whether the deal is good or bad for the country. Meanwhile, government says it has no reason to threaten members of the Ghana Real Estate Developers into accepting the controversial housing deal with Korean construction firm STX. Read GREDA's initial position on STX Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana