Ghana in Search of Regional Integration Agenda 61 Already, there are complaints that the current practice of sending representatives from the national parliaments contradicts the agreed principle of grass root representation. The Ghanaian delegation has provided evidence of what they have done in the past years even though they did not meet the original criteria of direct representation. The opportunity has therefore arrived for our representatives to champion the cause in every possible forum to make sure that structural change becomes a reality. The other dimension, nevertheless, is the issue of the powers that the representatives of the parliament will have. In their current advisory role, they can do very little to effect change at the level of the Authority of Heads of State and Government. The representatives of the people are naturally closer to them, regarding their circumstances and aspirations, hence are better positioned to advance their interests through concrete decisions and backed by purposeful legislation. The end result will be what can bring development, equity, protection of their rights and freedoms, the provision of better living conditions, and ensure individual freedoms and rights in the sub-region. The Ghanaian representatives must therefore undertake to pass all the necessary legislation within the national parliament and take the same commitment to other national parliaments in the sub-region. It will be recalled that the Ghanaian Select Committee on Foreign Affairs commenced this programme of visiting their counterparts in the Cote d'Ivoire and Nigerian parliaments just before the turn of the new millennium. 85 It is the expectation that more of such visits can be organised to provide the grounds for cooperation and collaboration on shared problems, for instance, the harmonisation of national laws and developmental programs and projects. Other committees of Parliament can take a cue from the example of the Committee on Foreign Affairs to organise solidarity visits and towards a sustainable framework for inter-parliamentary activity and exchange of ideas on problems confronting the sub-region. Another area of collaboration will be formal invitation to Heads of State and Government to address members of national parliaments and also the Community Parliament, all in the effort to deepen the culture of democratic practice. 85 It would be recalled that the Select Committee of Foreign Affairs of the Parliament of Ghana visited the Parliament of Cote d'Ivoire in 1999 in which this writer participated as an official delegate of LECIA. The visit was reciprocated by Ivorian Parliamentarians from their National Assembly between May 26 th and 29 th 2002. There was a similar visit by the Ghanaian Select Committee on Foreign Relations to their Nigeria counterparts on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Cooperation and Integration in September, 2000. These visits are normally concluded with Joint Communiqués that go to emphasize their commitment to the integration project.