Coalition of Civil Society Organization working on mining and the environment in the Upper West Region have expressed worry about the growing lack of political will to confront the menace of unregulated mining in the country.The group after its first coalition meeting on mining, food and natural resources released a statement which described institutions mandated to fight the mining menace as weak; policies and mining laws in the country as blank.The leader of the coalition, Yussif Kanton said the coalition is mindful of the growing threat of unregulated mining on food security and livelihood of poor and vulnerable groups in the three northern regions, especially the Upper West Region.The coalition said it is appalled by the growing lack of political will from government to confront the menace of unregulated mining in the country and described policies and mining laws in the country as blanket.However they pledged their support and intention to work closely with the Savannah Accelerated Development Authority (SADA) by way of commitment to protect the environment and natural resource of the Savannah ecological zone.The Upper West Regional Coordinator of Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organizational Development (CKOD), Bannoku Daniel wondered why 28 companies have been given licenses to man for gold in the Northern and Upper Regions.He said the survival of the people in these regions largely depends on agriculture and anything that is done to prevent the people from farming will have serious repercussions on the life of the people.He observed that desertification is advancing at an alarming rate of 4.5kilomters coupled with the annual floods.He lauded the Savanna Accelerated Development Agency (SADA) for instituting programmes to solve some of the challenges.