0.1 BACKGROUND TO THE FIELD OF STUDY:Africa is one of the most exploited continents in Human and Natural Resources.Sub Saharan countries in the western Africa are enveloped in this schema.This is as a result of African fragmentation through colonial imperialism.The colonial period had a seeming design of regional integrated spectrum in the form of British West Africa and French West Africa.However these establishments were only a regional design to rule the region with relative ease.This trade of colonial partnership in West Africa left a huge gap of African development, but with the awakening consciousness of redefining it growth strategy in political, economic and cultural sphere Africans were desperate to revise the trend.By the 1970s almost all West African countries had achieved independence and the desire for economic growth to compete with the rest of the world becomes stronger.There was an innate will of shaking themselves from the yoke of socio-economic imperialism.In a collaborated effort of economic African pursuit was borne the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.This serves as a regional economic integration with a view to promoting, protecting and sustaining the economic interest of the West Africa region.In May 1975, fifteen independents African states established the Economic Community of West Africa States.Hence background of ECOWAS principally as a regional economic community though it later served as a social and military operation as well.It should however be noted that this research will later unfold that a principle reason for setting a military operation in the form of ECOMOG was to protect its economic interest in the region.Apart from ECOWAS, there are other regional grouping in both Africa and particularly so West Africa.Such include West Africa Economic Monetary Union Zone, WAEMU; Mano River Union, MRU both in West Africa and East African Community, EAC; Southern African Development Co-operation, SADC in the eastern and southern Africa respectively, most of the states belonging to more than one or two regional communities either for economic, social, political, military or cultural reasons.Most regional integrations however are set up for economic reasons.Our focus study here will be in the West Africa; ECOWAS.　　0.2 STATEMENT OF HYPOTHESIS AND RESEARCH QUESTION:Generally, one would expect the ECOWAS partners to back their strong international trade programme and regional economic community with speed and alacrity.Sadly enough this is not the case.It operates on a treaty that would effectively guide the actors, institutions and operations of the regional community framework.Practical moves were taken in addressing pragmatic economic structures like the Common External Tariff CET, Ecowas Trade Liberalisation Scheme ETLS, and easy movement of persons, goods and services.In the circle of these bold steps taken yet the socio-economic framework of this economic integration seems paralyzed.The effort does not quite seem enthusiastically workable.A major thought given in the establishment of ECOWAS was a tip to increase the economic bargaining power of the region being a producer of raw materials.The stoutness of that strength which would have greatly increased the GDP of these states is questionable.The increase in trade still stands at a snail growth pace.What a paradox! This stands the hypothesis and brings us to our research questions Why amidst conscious effort, ECOWAS countries have not had a successful cross border trade? Are there barriers to the trade policy? How potent are the regional economic actors in pursuing their goals? Do they have the right mechanism to sustain this regional economic cooperation? Are they unanimously focused with enthusiastic commitment?　　0.3 JUSTIFICATION OF STUDY AND ARGUMENT:The most potent intemational cooperation in the west zone of Africa if not Africa as a whole is the ECOWAS.The motive for setting up such a community is more than vital and its hiccups toward success should be an issue for concern.Here a slow of implementation of the community agenda, policy and international trade document could be debated and argued upon.My argument is that the slow and problematic implementation of the organizations agenda could probably be the attitude of the various actors and institutions in the region.There is also the trouble of wrecking infrastructure which does not support the effort of the ambitious regional challenge.With these notions stated, it is obviously proved that ECOWAS is faced with many challenges in meeting its focused agenda.These challenges had negatively impacted on the overall activity of this regional economic co-operation.West Africa a small region with about sixteen states has countries with different political, economic and social history.Each of these states has its state machinery of actors, institutions, economic, cultural, political and social advantage.These puzzling phenomena are major contributing factors for me to write this work.The thesis will seek to evaluate actions of modern international actors, their institutions and the sincerity of the interest they seek.The write-up will comment on the dream focus of the ECOWAS architect and their success story.As a way of justifying the interest on this vital topic, ECOWAS leaders seek answers to their frustrating impediments and the obvious but practical question that follows.This write-up explores the avenue to get those answers in mapping out strategy for a successful regional integration.A challenge will be posed to the relevance, support and application of international trade laws and policies.ECOWAS partnership with European Union, World Trade Organisation will be evaluated.The project writing will critically assess the implementation of international trade related document like Interstate Road Transit Convention, WACIP, ECOWAP, General Agreement on Tariff and Trade GATT, ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme ETLS, Common External Tariff CET, Economic Partnership Agreement EPA to name a few.Above all this research will assess it as a success or a failure in the light of general interpretation of regional economic co-operation.The genuine desire to meet the expectation of ECOWAS citizens and the failure in the workable ECOWAS system laid a justified reason for this research on the course.In this justification of study, we seek to address the hypothetical questions above.　　0.4.SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY:ECOWAS as a continent regional organization has a multi facet operations like military, cultural, economic, political etc.but this study will focus on the economic inter-trade relations and policy between/among West African States.My research will be both empirical and analytical and will obtain data from primary and secondary source.The research will explore the possibility of data collection through interviews, related text books, journals, publications from international organisations like WCO, WTO, IMF,ECOWAS etc.This study will comprise five chapters.In a theoretical approach, I intend building my argument from the general to the particular.That is looking at regionalism as a concept with its general principle and then narrowing down to the particular, ECOWAS.Chapter one will therefore give a holistic study of the concept and theory of Regionalism looking at the different kinds of regional cooperation.Chapter two will narrow my study to my focus area giving an in-depth study of West Africa, historical background leading to the establishment of ECOWAS as a regional entity.Chapter three will focus on the structure and policy of ECOWAS.Chapter four will critically evaluate the structure and policy as a success visa vis numerous codifications and practices.Chapter five will dilate on ECOWAs pro-activeness in term of response and initiatives,the achievements then looking at conclusion and recommendations.　　0.5 CONCLUSION:It is hoped that a thorough research will lead to a logical and analytical conclusion of the thesis addressing the hypothesis and the justification of the research undertaken.By the end of the entire exercise, the research would have identified the problems and pinpoint the bulwark to the realization of ECOWAS international trade growth and the constraints of international exchange.In a conclusive debate, we will seek to demonstrate the ambition of ECOWAS.The research will attempt to advise on issues and create alternatives to inter trade cohesion.The conclusion will further make recommendation for a workable solution and design a way forward to the realization of the great dream of an ambitious regional economic integration in West Africa.