Ghana in Search of Regional Integration Agenda 176 INTRODUCTION Regional integration has become the agenda for the economic and social development of countries of the West African sub-region, not least Ghana. This is so because these countries face numerous common challenges that can arguably be dealt with collectively. These problems include marginalisation of the region in the global economy, weak infrastructure, weak performance in macroeconomic policies as well as regional commons such as the environment and natural resources utilisation. In addition, these countries are commonly classified among the low­income countries in the world. Against this background, West African States have established the ECOWAS, of which Ghana is a Member State, as the vehicle through which they seek to pursue their regional integration agenda. Several questions arise. What are the aims and objectives of ECOWAS? What policies are there in the pursuit of regional co-operation and integration by ECOWAS Member States? Do international organisations and donor agencies play an important role in complementing this integration agenda in West Africa? To address these questions, this Paper will examine the role of ECOWAS, the African Union(AU), the European Union(EU), the United States Aid Agency(USAID) and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development(the World Bank). It will highlight, inter alia, the following three strategic issues: a. West African integration in the new global context. b. ECOWAS and the integration agenda of its Member States. c. The Role of the above-named international organisations and donor agencies in complementing the regional integration process in West Africa. The Paper will integrate the challenges posed in the process of regional integration in West Africa into the discussion with a view to finding its prospects. 2. WEST AFRICAN INTEGRATION FACING THE NEW GLOBAL CONTEXT The last few decades have brought about a global structural evolution of a kind hitherto unknown in the history of mankind. The accompanying changes are many and varied, carrying with them opportunities and risks. One dominant trend of this process of globalisation, paradoxically, is regionalisation and reinforcement of economic groups. 199 In this context, there has been concluded the North-American Free Trade Agreement(NAFTA). 200 So also Japan and some emergent countries are on the path to co-ordinating their strategy in the South-East Asia area. 201 The Gulf 199 For discussion, see Sajal Lahiri(ed.) Regionalism and Globalisation: Theory and Practice(Routledge), 2001. 200 NAFTA was signed by Canada, Mexico and the United States of America on 17 September 1992. It entered into force on 1 January 1994. 201 See, e.g. the ASEAN Free Trade Area(FTA) Agreement signed on 28 January 1992.