Labour unions in the Ashanti Region say they are poised to get onto the streets in protest of exorbitant hikes in utility prices.

The collective decision taken by the Industrial and Commercial workers Union, the Ghana National Association of Teachers, the Local Services Workers Union, Polytechnic administrators and other groups was in support of the resolution by the Trades Union for workers to embark on a strike action in protest of recent hikes in utility prices.

TUC on Tuesday, announced a nationwide strike by workers on November 18, if government fails to review prices of utilities announced on October 1. The strike will be preceded by series of coordinated demonstration across the country.

The unions in the various regions were directed by TUC to meet and agree on the date and modalities of the demonstration.

Just a day after the TUC resolution, the labour unions in Kumasi appear poised for action and have resolved to pour onto the streets in protest over utility price hikes.

Baba Allotey, who chaired the meeting of the Ashanti Region labour unions told Luv FM's Kofi Adu Domfeh that  "Ghanaians look up to labour to deliver them from this mess" and they will not disappoint.

The union leaders have described the demonstration and impending strike as a "national fight" geared towards saving the mass of Ghanaians from the hardships imposed by the recent hikes.

Allotey said workers are "feeling the pinch" and will turn up in their large numbers on the day of the demonstration.

"Ashanti Region is more than poised and so very soon we will get out there and get members sensitized and at the appropriate time, when the day is selected, you will see the response on the streets." he stated.

The unions have begun mass mobilization ahead of the yet to be decided date for the demonstration.

The Ghana Medical Association are not left out of the struggle.

The Association's president, Dr Kwabena Opoku Adusei told Joy News that in principle, the Association supports the call by the TUC but are yet to take a substantive decision.

He said they will inform the public on 9 November, 2013, by which time a decision would have been taken.

Meanwhile, the Ghana Federation of Labour are yet to agree on whether or not to accept the move by the TUC.

A meeting held on Wednesday to discuss the matter was deadlocked.

Secretary General of the Federation, Abraham Koomson said they have to meet again to take  a substantive decision but feared if they go along the action decided by TUC, it will be unproductive for them.

However, the National Security Coordinator is said to be meeting leaders of the Trades Union Congress in a bid to stop the 18th November nationwide strike and demonstrations.