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The government has assured real estate developers and those on the value chain that it will continue to dialogue with them to find solutions to the challenges facing the sector. The engagement will be a win-win with priority to contributions from industry players on policies apt to transform the sector. The Deputy Minister of Water Resources, Works and Housing, Mr Johnny Osei Kofi, gave the assurance in Accra when he opened a two-day Housing Fair organised by the Ghana Real Estate Developers Association (GREDA) in partnership with Stanbic Bank Ghana. The assurance comes on the back of the government�s decision to change the proposed introduction of Value Added Tax (VAT) on the real estate sector to a flat rate of five per cent. The reduction followed a series of negotiations with the government through meetings with the Vice President, Mr Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, the Ministries of Finance and Water Resources, as well as the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Although the association, the umbrella body of estate developers and input suppliers, was asking for a flat rate of three per cent, its Executive Secretary, Mr Samuel Amegayibor, said in an earlier interview that his outfit was impressed with the government�s decision to take their request into consideration. �It is not what we wanted but it is better than what was previously imposed and so we commend them for even agreeing to negotiate and listen to our issues,� Mr Amegayibor, who is also the Managing Director of Rumuel Development, said. Going forward, the Deputy Minister, who is in charge of Housing, said such negotiations would be sustained and improved upon for the betterment of the industry and the country as a whole. He noted that the GREDA, which comprises over 400 registered members, was an important body as far as housing is concerned, hence the government�s resolve to foster a closer relationship with it. GREDA-Stanbic Fair This year�s Housing Fair is one of the many exhibitions GREDA organises for members, real estate developers and allied service providers, giving them the opportunity to showcase their products to the general public. This year�s event was, however, spiced up by the coming on board of Stanbic Bank, which offers mortgage services to people wishing to buy houses. In all, about 70 institutions from the real estate, input suppliers, home appliance and automobile dealers participated in the two-day event. The GREDA�s Executive Secretary explained that the decision to include automobile, home appliances and input suppliers was to ensure that the association and the bank provided a complete housing package to people interested in real estate. �We wanted a complete housing package where there would be exhibitors with houses, input supplies, home furnishing materials and even automobile, which is needed in every house,� he said. The Managing Director of Stanbic Bank, Mr Alhassan Andani, emphasised the bank�s resolve to work with the association to help bridge the housing deficit, which is estimated at 1.7 million units.