Ghana in Search of Regional Integration Agenda 71 to trade. The first impetus therefore, is the attraction of creating an expanded regional market. An expanded Regional Market can • allow economies of large-scale production; • foster specialisation; • encourage learning by doing; and • help to attract foreign direct investment(FDI) Secondly, an expanded regional market creates conditions for enhanced economic growth. Thirdly, the need and desire to foster cooperation and create a common market help to enhance and solidify domestic reforms. Most nations on their own might find it difficult to engage in domestic economic reforms, requiring prudence and discipline. Integration makes it possible for governments to adhere to reforms that the supra-national institutions 92 may have laid down for the attainment of community goals. Integration also acts as an insulator against the vagaries of globalisation. Globalisation is no respecter of stereotypes. Smaller economies may, therefore, have problems coping with the demands of globalisation. The bigger and more robust an economy, the more it is able to withstand competition and gain market access. It is against this background that integrated economies always stand the chance, not only of creating larger markets, but also of being effective players in the competitive global market place. In this regard, there is an added dimension that also acts as an impetus for getting involved(to be part of an integrative scheme) – an added higher opportunity cost of remaining'non-aligned'. Countries do not want to remain uninvolved in any integrative scheme, for fear of'fighting it all alone'. 93 Finally, there are also non-economic objectives. These include managing immigration flows and promoting regional security. The EU has a common immigration policy and a defense policy that allows it to even deploy forces abroad. 94 The ECOWAS Monitoring Group(ECOMOG), which helped to bring the civil wars in Liberia and Sierra Leone to an end, is also an example of collective security. The new wave of Regionalism There has been a new wave of regionalism, especially since the 1980s. This new wave may be explained away first, by the uncertainties surrounding the conclusion 92 Since the ultimate goal of an integration scheme is the attainment of a'community', the creation of supra-national institutions(e.g., a Central Bank, Community Parliament, Clearing House, etc.) is inevitable. 93 Canada initially, threatened withdrawal from the NAFTA, if Mexico was admitted. However it backed off when she saw that isolated, it would be difficult to go it alone. 94 An example is the EU Force in Chad and the Central African Republic.