Ghana in Search of Regional Integration Agenda 110 The Ghanaian Political Parties and West African Integration Political parties in Ghana have been prominent in the long search for regional and continental integration. From the 1960s when continental integration flourished through the 1990s and 21 st century when the consciousness of sub-regional integration deepened, the political parties in Ghana have contributed to the making of both the African Union(AU) and ECOWAS. It is commonplace that the Convention People's Party(CPP) under Dr. Kwame Nkrumah sowed the seed of the defunct Organisation of African Unity(OAU). From the beginning, the CPP indicated its desire to the promotion of African integration and articulated the ideals of African unity on several campaign platforms. For instance, Nkrumah declared to 'surrender in part or in whole of our(Ghana's) sovereignty in the interest of African continental unity'(CPP, Work and Happiness 1963: 44). Toward this goal, the CPP advocated'an overall economic planning on a united continental basis which would increase the industrial and economic power of Africa'(CPP, Work and Happiness 1963: 45). According to Nkrumah, one means of fostering African integration was the creation of a joint military command. Political parties' interest in regional integration did not wane with the overthrow of Nkrumah and the CPP on February 24, 1966. The Progress Party(PP) that formed the 2 nd Republic showed, and worked towards the integration of the West African sub­region. For instance, the constitution of the PP expressed the party's intention to 'developing closest political, economic and cultural relations with the neighbouring states of Ivory Coast, Upper Volta, Togo, Nigeria, Dahomey, Niger and Mali'(PP Constitution 1969: 7). Consequently, during its tenure in government,'the PP participated fully in the movement for a West African political and economic community'(Quarshie 1971:16). Even the opposition National Alliance of Liberals (NAL) showed a strong commitment to programmes that had the potential to align Ghana to other sister countries in the sub-region and Africa as a whole(NAL, Manifesto 1969: 12). Although the ECOWAS was born in the era of non-democratic military regimes in West Africa in the mid-1970s, political parties that emerged at the end of the decade were supportive of the sub-regional integration agenda. The People's National Party (PNP) that inaugurated the 3 rd Republic led by Dr. Hilla Limann directed its attention not only toward the promotion of the ECOWAS but also announced the party's resolve to work toward the attainment of Dr. Nkrumah's dream of the eventual unification of the African continent(PNP, Manifesto 1979:30). According to the PNP, the attainment of the ultimate objective of continental integration was necessary if regional integration was given a boost. The PNP therefore declared,'we believe in political and economic cooperation with our immediate neighbours and this would be promoted within the framework of the ECOWAS'(PNP, Manifesto 1979:31). The Popular Front Party(PFP) like the United National Convention(UNC) –