Ghana in Search of Regional Integration Agenda 170 educational institutions have severe challenges. A cost-effective approach to addressing this challenge could be the commissioning of joint research, which pool together experts in a particular field to concentrate on different aspects of a research problem. Closely linked and contributing to the problem is the dearth of literature on the various aspects of integration. Despite the availability of some literature on regional integration, most are skewed towards economic and political integration. Thus, innovative approaches to the implementation of the principles of integration using available resources are missing. A wide dissemination of the research findings would therefore serve as a source of literature for education as well as the generation of new ideas. As politicians and policy makers remain fixated on the ideals of regionalism, it may be difficult for them to look at it from a perspective that is detached from the status quo. The findings of well conducted research, which provides fresh perspectives, could result in the adoption of different approaches which will provide the opportunity for an assessment of the integration project. Simply put, it will provide the opportunity to ask the questions of the three'Ws' – Where have we come from, where are we now and where are we going? This will in turn result in knowledge based revitalisation and re-strategisation. A number of reputable educational institutions in Ghana have long been involved in research aimed at identifying innovative ways to increase agricultural production. The Crop Research Institute(CRI) in Kumasi, the Oil Palm Research Institute(OPRI) in Kusi, the University Of Ghana College Of Agriculture and Consumer Sciences' Agricultural Research Centres in Kade, Kpong and Legon and the Bunso Agricultural College in Bunso specialise in different areas of agriculture. Using comparative advantage, each of these institutes maximises their outputs by focusing on their areas of specialisation to enhance agricultural production and minimise the reduction of losses in food production through research and the application of research. Research from these institutions has in no doubt, been beneficial to the countries within the sub-region although there has not been a deliberate attempt to make the benefits available to the sub region at large. 197 The West Africa Centre for Crop Improvement(WACCI) established in 2007 198 is therefore well poised to facilitate the provision of Article 25 of the ECOWAS Treaty which provides for agricultural development and food security. It can serve as the pivot upon which all these 197 University of Ghana Annual Report, 2008 pp 1 – 35 198 The West African Centre for Crop Improvement(WACCI) which is a sub-regional centre, aims at producing graduate students at the Ph.D level in plant breeding. The first batch of students was admitted in February, 2008. The first phase of the programme will last for 8 years.