Ghana in Search of Regional Integration Agenda 62 ECOWAS and Parliamentary Relations: The third layer is the over-arching supranational institution, the ECOWAS and its role in the processes of integration. It has emerged as an important international actor, particularly since the events that led to its interventions in the civil conflicts that inflicted the sub-region in the 1990s. A close examination of the staggering number of protocols and conventions that have emerged from the activities of the organisation over just thirty years provide a convenient yardstick to imagine the prospects for sub-regional integration. The agreements that purportedly are to shape the integration and development of the sub region cover virtually all areas of human activity. These go to advance, in a real sense, the raison d'être of the ECOWAS, thus to enhance economic cooperation and trade relations towards overall development, individually and collectively. It is, however, apparent from the inaction and attitude of member states and their respective governments that they are not truly committed to the laudable aims and objectives that they had agreed to champion and accomplish. They are unwilling to cede any of their sovereign powers towards the development of the organisation. The protocols and conventions remain largely undertakings on paper with miniscule activity in the area of implementation. The institutional mechanisms that have been worked out somewhat provide some direction toward real action. There are signals for concrete action and desirable results in the areas of trade relations, tariff reduction and customs, monetary union, energy production, telecommunications, residence and citizenship, security, democracy and human rights. However, it is the lack of commitment by the governments to invest the needed energy for the integration process that has created some concern. A number of protocols and conventions are yet to be ratified by national parliaments, much less to be signed into law. Dues and contributions owed by member states to the Community are not paid making it appear as if these are unwarranted impositions. Worse of all, representation on some of the institutions of the ECOWAS appear to be a mere fulfilment of treaty obligations and not serious undertakings with bench marks for the implementation of policy programs. The state of affairs certainly requires serious intervention by representatives to the ECOWAS Parliament as well as in the national parliaments. Some restructuring has taken place within the ECOWAS Executive Secretariat which has led to its transformation into the ECOWAS Commission. If indeed the transformation is meant to provide the Commission with the powers to perform its task more purposefully, it is well intentioned. So far, regional activities since the said transformation have not registered any major or spectacular breakthroughs. The liturgical approach to the resolution of issues by the Authority of Heads of State and