Ghana in Search of Regional Integration Agenda 44 deficiencies in the 1978 and 1981 defence and security pacts. This led to the 1999 Protocol Relating to the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management, Resolution, Peacekeeping and Security. 59 Also, the Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance was signed as supplementary protocol in December 2001. The leadership of the sub-region, however, as far back as August 1994, had undertaken the commitment in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, to establish a Community Parliament through the execution of Protocol Number A/P2/8/94. It identified the need for a'parliamentary forum for dialogue, consultation and consensus” as an instrument to bring into manifestation the Declaration of the Political Principles adopted by the same Authority of Heads of State and Government earlier in July 1991. 60 The Community Parliament has, since 2000, been operational alongside the fifteen national parliaments of ECOWAS member states. It is from these parliaments that delegates are sent to the Community Parliament to perform its advisory and consultative roles. Against this background, some questions worth considering include the following: What are the constitutional and legislative processes in place in the sub-region to elicit the necessary political and popular support of the people of the sub-region? In what ways can it be said that national parliaments and their representatives in the Community Parliament work in the interest of the generality of the people of West Africa? What kind of relationship exists between the Community Parliament and national parliaments in fostering stronger collaboration in the integration agenda? What are the tangible results from these processes for the citizenry so far? Objectives of the Paper For these and other related questions and issues, the paper explores as its primary objective the role of Ghanaian parliamentarians in the West African integration process. Additionally, it examines their representation in one of the foremost and important supranational institutions, the Community Parliament which ultimately is to provide the organisation with a legislative and representative character, though currently operating in strictly in an advisory and consultative capacity. The study also explores the structure and functions of the Community Parliament, the input and impact of Ghanaian representatives in the Parliament, the challenges and the possible ways to address them. 59 For a comprehensive analysis of the ECOWAS security architecture, see Boni Yao Gebe,“ECOWAS Security Protocols and Conflict Management in West Africa: Lessons and the Way Forward.” Legon Journal of International Affairs, Vol. 1, No. 1, December 2004, pp. 1-25. In addition, see the following works of Emmanuel Kwesi Aning, “Investing in Peace and Security in Africa: The Case of ECOWAS.” Conflict, Security and Development, Vol. 4, No. 3, December 2004; and also“A New ECOWAS?: Democracy and Security Sector Governance in West Africa.” Africa Security Dialogue and Research(Unpublished Manuscript). 60 Hon. Kenneth Dzirasah, one time Member of the Parliament of Ghana and the Community Parliament in his lecture on“The Structure, Functions and Relevance of the Community Parliament of the ECOWAS” at an International Workshop on the ECOWAS Parliamentary System at Ho, 12-15 th August 2002.