One of the goals of the Economic community of West African states (ECOWAS) is to promote economic growth in the sub-region by facilitating the free movement of people and goods. In 1975, the 15 member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) made regional integration their primary objective hence bringing in the birth of the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme (ETLS).
The ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme is a set of protocols that guide the free movement of goods and persons across the region. Unfortunately, Ghana is not honouring its obligation under these treaties by permitting corruption, bribery and delays along the trade routes especially the Tema-Ouagadougou trade route which acts as barriers to free movement of persons and goods. The Legal Resources Centre and West Africa Trade Hub (WATH) partners to organize activities geared towards curbing this menace. Among activities that are organised include workshops that are held for stakeholders on the implementation of ETLS. TV and radio interviews are conducted to discuss and throw more light on high transport cost as a result of bribery and road delays along this route. This is done by resource persons who are well abreast with economic activities and transportation on the said route. The LRC and WATH continually advocate for the removal of the numerous checkpoint and controls that hamper free movement through press conferences and other mediums.