Ghana in Search of Regional Integration Agenda 101 The youth can also strengthen their role in accelerating sub-regional integration in West Africa by exploring and taking advantage of employment opportunities within the sub- region. Currently, due to the advancement of technology occasioned by the process of globalisation, a significant number of jobs within the sub region are advertised in media that are easily accessible to all. It is suggested that by taking advantage of some of these opportunities, the youth can accelerate the pace of regional integration within the West African sub- region. In doing this, youth organisations can play the role of effective facilitators by organising employment symposia to introduce their respective constituents to such opportunities. Yet another platform by which the youth can facilitate the process of integration within the West African sub-region is through trade. Currently intra West African trade can be considered as being on the decline, registering about 11.5 percent of imports and 12.6 percent of exports 126 of the total international trade of the entire West African Sub region. A good number of the partakers of that trade fall within the active age bracket, which includes the youth bracket of between 18-35 years. Given the important role of intra regional trade, interstate co-operation and indeed integration, it is surmised that by improving on cross border trade within the sub region, the youth can hasten the speed of regional integration within the sub region. Beyond trade, another area where the youth can effectively contribute to accelerating the pace of West African integration is through educational exchanges. Events such as the West African University Games(WAUG) and the University of Ghana/ University of Ibadan bilateral games which are basically inter-university interactions but which create considerable platforms for the youth to interact must be encouraged. Similar partnerships must be engendered between educational institutions in Ghana and others in West African countries. Events such as debates can be organised even at the level of secondary institutions to strengthen co­operation among the youth in West Africa. Further, youth organisations based on regional lines such as the Ashanti Youth Students Union can explore the platform created by the concept of sister city relations to engage likeminded youth organisation in other west African countries. Through such arrangements, youth organisations can accelerate the exchange of ideas necessary for regional integration. Youth organisations in Ghana can also use entertainment as a platform for accelerating Regional integration in West Africa. Currently, music genres are transcending boundaries with the youth playing a leading role in this industry. A recent trend in the Ghana music and movie industry is joint productions between 126 Ibid. p. 73