occurrence   is   that   for   many   of   the   countries   implementing   the   ETLS,   especially,   the   French   speaking  countries,  international  trade  taxes  form  a  major  source  of  revenue.  Thus,  losing  them   becomes  a  big  problem.  The  proper  functioning  of  the  compensation  fund  would  have  solved   this  problem,  however,  contributions  to  the  fund  is  not  that  encouraging    A  major  observation   is  that  Ghana  has  never  benefited  from  the  compensation  fund.  This  can  largely  be  attributed   to   the   inability   of   our   revenue   agencies   to   compile   accurate   and   timely   data   to   enable   the   ECOWAS  Bureau  apply  for  compensation.     National  Approval  Committee  has  been  set  up,  Chaired  by  the  Director  of  the  ECOWAS  Bureau   with   representatives   from   CEPS,   MOTI/PSI/PSD,   GEPC,   Ghana   Chamber   of   Commerce   and   Industry.   The   objective   of   the   committee   is   to   screen   applications   for   exemptions   and   make   recommendations.  The  committee  meets  quarterly.  As  at  June  2008  about  329  companies  and   over   800   commodities   have   been   registered   under   the   scheme.   Also,   training   has   been   undertaken   by   the   ECOWAS   Bureau,   CEPS   and   GIS.   However,   more   need   to   be   done   by   the   stakeholders   -­‐   GCCI,   AGI,   GIPC,   MOTI/PSI/PSD   and   GEPC   to   educate   their   members   on   the   ETLS   since  it  is  imperative  for  stakeholders  to  be  on  top  of  the  implementation.       There   are   a   number   of   challenges   including   the   use   of   unapproved   routes   by   certain   nationals   of   member   states   and   without   documents,   especially   border   residents;   use   of   National   Identity  Cards  by  some  citizens  for  the  purpose  of  traveling  within  the  Sub-­‐Region  instead  of   the   approved   travel   documents   (i.e.   national   passports,   ECOWAS   travel   certificates   and   ECOWAS  Passports);  lack  of  infrastructure  facilities  at  many  border  crossing  points;  excessive   border   documentation   requirements   from   numerous   border   agencies;   lack   of   adequate   awareness  of  the  rights  and  responsibilities  of  travelers  under  the  ECOWAS  protocols  and  the   general   insecurity   resulting   from   conflicts   in   the   sub-­‐region   which   has   resulted   in   cross   border   crimes   such   as   trafficking   of   small   arms   and   light   weapons,   Illicit   trafficking   of   drugs,   human   trafficking,  armed  robbery,  money  laundering,  banditry  and  rape;  motor  vehicle  theft,  advance   fee  fraud  (419),  internet  fraud  forgery  and  smuggling,  among  others.   85