Ministries, Government Agencies and Departments from the 1st of January should be able to access funds from the Finance Ministry to support their spending plans for 2011. This follows the approval of the Appropriations Bill by parliament authorizing government to spend a little over 12 billion Ghana cedis for next year. These are monies the Finance Ministry expects to gross from taxes, grants, incomes and fees. President Mills is expected to give his assent to the bill which was approved by Parliament just before it rose for the Christmas break. Deputy Finance Minister Seth Terkper told Joy Business his outfit is working hard to ensure that government business begins on time. Mr. Terkper said some measures that have been put in place to ensure that ministries, department and agencies keep to their estimates in the budget. Government plans to spend the little over 12 billion Ghana cedis on wages and salaries, services maintenance, administration and investment infrastructure. Source: Joy Business/Ghana