Ghana in Search of Regional Integration Agenda 31 iintends to implement its trade policy by developing statistical and quality systems to meet broad requirements of domestic and international markets, facilitating the development and promotion of non-traditional exports products and the development of the production base and expansion of cross-border trade. The Private Sector Development(PSD) division of the Ministry is to provide an overall enabling environment which allows private firms to operate efficiently and support specific institutions and policies to promote the private sector nationally and regionally. It recognises the active involvement of several MDAs in private sector development and ensures inter-sectoral coordination through the permanent inter­ministerial committee for private sector development. Several initiatives have been taken by Ghana to facilitate trade between its neigbours. The Ghana Gateway Project continues to deepen coordination and improve institutional capacity for project implementation and the Ghana Free Zones Board continues to develop off-site infrastructural facilities to attract potential investors. The Ghana Trade and Investment Programme seeks to promote foreign direct investment and to establish Ghana as a major manufacturing, value added, financial and commercial centre of Africa. The ECOWAS Bureau The ECOWAS Bureau has a long history in dealing with integration in West Africa and it has been the main focus of ECOWAS activity in the varying phases of regional integration in Ghana. It was on the recommendation of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers, in 1982, that national units were created in member states to coordinate and monitor Community activities in member states(Recommendation C/REC. 1/11/82, 17 November 1982). In December 1990, the Council further decided on the appointment of high ranking officers to head ECOWAS Bureaux in member states, the establishment of national inter-ministerial coordination committees to ensure the effective implementation of Community Acts and Decisions and the institution of the annual meeting of heads of ECOWAS National Units to exchange ideas and seek appropriate solutions to problems encountered at the national level in the follow up of ECOWAS activities (Decision C/DEC. 3/12/90). The mission of Ghana's national unit, the ECOWAS Bureau, is to'ensure the maximum participation and contribution of Ghana to the regional integration and development process, to enable Ghana derive optimum benefits from ECOWAS membership.'(ECOWAS Bureau Brochure, 2008) The Bureau has several functions in relation to the Community(e.g, participation in ECOWAS activities and distribution of information about its programmes); the